A £900 e-scooter bought with inheritance cash was stolen by a desperate drug addict, a court heard.

Jason Stanmore, 35, sped off on the prized possession after asking if he could have a go riding the electric two-wheeler.

But after hearing the thief had already done two-and-a-half months on remand and was keen to put his drug-taking behind him, an Oxford judge imposed an 18 month community order with a nine month drug rehabilitation programme.

“This is not in any sense an easy option. This commits you to a lot more difficult things to do but it has at the end of it a great deal of positives,” Recorder Stuart Trimmer QC said.

“However, if you fail to do what the probation services ask you to do, if you fail in relation to the activities and the drug requirement, I’m afraid you will be back here and another judge may take an entirely different view.”

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Prosecuting, Cathy Olliver told Oxford Crown Court that the victim had bought the £900 e-scooter using a £1,000 inheritance left by his mother. “It is quite distinctive as it has a seat.”

He was on his way home down Barns Road, Cowley, when he saw a friend at the side of the street.

His friend was allowed to have a go on the e-scooter, going up and down the road.

Stanmore then asked if he could try riding the scooter. He got behind the handlebars then sped off and did not return.

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In a victim personal statement, the scooter’s owner said his mother died in November 2020 and left him £1,000. He had mental health problems and bought the electric scooter to help him get out of the house and into the city. The theft had left him feeling ‘very depressed again’.

Peter du Feu, mitigating, said his client was ‘bored’ of going in-and-out of prison. “He’s just bored with it, fed up with it and wants to get drug free.”

At the time of the theft he had been living rough or on friends’ sofas and using heroin. He was ashamed of what he’d done.

While in prison he was taking a substitute for heroin. He was committed to getting drug free, it was said.

Stanmore, of Ashhurst Way, Oxford, denied robbery but pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to theft. He must pay £650 in compensation.

 

Jason Stanmore received a community order at Oxford Crown Court

Jason Stanmore received a community order at Oxford Crown Court

 

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