Homeless Leeds man stole JCB digger on New Year's Eve before e-bike police pursuit

A homeless man who stole a JCB mini digger from a site in Leeds on New Year’s Eve has been jailed.

Connor Callaghan, 25, was also sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday (June 30) for dangerously driving an e-bike through the streets and being in possession of crack cocaine during a separate incident.

The court heard that on December 31 last year, Callaghan, of no fixed abode, broke into the site on Sandmoor Avenue in Alwoodley where a company was carrying out landscaping works.

For the prosecution, Adam Walker said that CCTV caught Callaghan stealing the mini digger and staff, who were on their Christmas breaks at the time, were alerted.

His honour judge Simon Batiste said: “How did he steal it? It’s not like he could just pick it up and walk away with it.”

The notes available to Mr Walker stated that Callaghan was able to get into the site by removing the fencing.

The vehicle was later recovered and Callaghan was identified by a police officer who “recognised him from an arrest photograph”.

The second set of offences relate to March 29 this year, when Callaghan was seen driving an e-bike recklessly in Leeds by police, who then began making after him.

During the three minute pursuit Callaghan’s driving “fell far below the standard expected of a competent rider”. He rode through red lights, drove on the wrong side of the road, went the wrong way on a roundabout and narrowly missed a car before losing control and falling off.

He was arrested and searched by police, who found heroin and crack cocaine in his possession

Callaghan was already on license for previous offences of dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

For the defence, Amanda Lydia Pearce said that Callaghan had a drug debt over his head when he stole the JCB. He also blamed this on his driving offence, as he felt he couldn’t tell the drug dealers that he was disqualified out of “fear” that it might cause a backlash.

Ms Pearce added that Callaghan has been homeless for a number of years and unable to acquire accommodation due to “setting fires while in custody” as a result of mental health struggles.

She said that there are “clear concerns around his thinking and behaviour” and that he has a tendency towards “impulsivity and inconsequential thinking”.

Ms Pearce also requested rehabilitation activity days for Callaghan, who she said smokes marijuana every day.

Callaghan pleaded guilty to the offences of theft, driving without a license, driving dangerously and possession of Class A drugs at a pre trial and preparation hearing.

Judge Batiste sentenced Callaghan to 40 months in prison and banned him from driving for four years and eight months.