Burglar who stole cars from Sinclair Garages in Neyland

Brian Davis, 53, of Bush Street in Pembroke Dock, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to three offences of non-dwelling burglary.

Davis and his accomplice broke in to Sinclair Garages in the early hours of April 2 last year, and they made off with a Mercedes CLA, an Audi A1, an Audi Q3, and a Volkswagen Tiguan.

Sentencing Davis, Judge Paul Thomas KC said the offences were too serious to warrant a suspended sentence, and added that he did not think there was a realistic chance of rehabilitation.

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Swansea Crown Court heard that the pair forced their way in to the back of the business, and pried open the board where the keys were stored with a crowbar.

“In total, nine sets of keys were removed from the key board,” prosecutor Matthew Murphy said.

The men left in two vehicles at 2.32am. They then returned in one of the vehicles at 2.46am and took another car, before returning again to steal a fourth car.

The Volkswagen Tiguan – worth £36,577, Audi A1 and Audi Q3 were recovered the following day, whilst the Mercedes CLA, worth £12,382, was only found in January of this year.

Brian Davis broke in to Sinclair Garages in Neyland. (Image: Google Street View)

The locks had to be changed on three of these cars, as well as on the five other cars which the burglars had stolen the keys for.

The total cost of just replacing the locks was £5,541, Mr Murphy said, whilst the stolen cars were valued at around £90,000 combined.

Police officers found a glove in the footwell of one of the cars which provided partial prints for the defendant’s left ring and index fingers.

Davis was arrested after he attended Haverfordwest Police Station on August 14 this year.

The court heard that he had gone to Scotland – despite being subject to post-sentence supervision at the time for an unrelated offence – in December to stay with family in Glasgow to help get clean from drugs.

He returned to Pembrokeshire some eight months later and handed himself in.

Brian Davis was jailed after breaking in to Sinclair Garages and making off with cars worth £90,000. (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police)

“The defendant, as a youth and a young adult, had a problem with heroin. There were bereavements in his family which caused him to relapse,” said Stuart John, in mitigation.

“He should never have left Pembrokeshire.

“He did so with the best intention.

“He was clean when he handed himself in.”

Mr John said Davis had taken a series of courses and attended counselling whilst in custody, and added: “He does understand the potential consequences of relapsing again”.