Man borrowed car to 'fix' engine and sold it online

THIEF WHO DUPED PENSIONER AVOIDS JAIL AFTER STRING OF OFFENCES

- CARL JACKSON News Reporter

A THIEF who borrowed a man’s car, offering to fix it, ended up selling it on eBay.

Scott Norton ‘strung along’ the victim, aged 71, for months, demanding more money.

Then the man’s brother noticed the car had been sold online for parts.

Despite being quizzed by police, Norton went on to steal more than £1,000 of belongings from someone else’s driveaway as well as expensive tools from a building site.

Norton, 37, of Allen Road, Tipton blamed his need to fund his cocaine addiction but Birmingham Crown Court Judge Peter Cooke concluded he simply had a ‘fundamentally dishonest streak.

Nevertheless, he was spared immediate jail and was instead handed a two-year suspended sentence, having admitted four charges of theft and one charge of fraud.

Norton was ordered to carry out 25 days of rehabilitation activity and a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement.