A fence was caught driving a stolen car just days after police raided his mum’s home to find Amazon parcels worth hundreds of pounds stashed around the house.

Kane Jones, 26, was jailed for a year at Oxford Crown Court last week for handling the stolen packages, which had been robbed from an Amazon driver in Nuneham Courtenay on January 4, 2020, and for stealing the Vauxhall Antara from the driveway of a Kidlington B&B.

That sentence was lower than the jail time handed out to co-defendant Joseph Holden, who got 16 months for handling the stolen parcels and stealing the Vauxhall.

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Judge Michael Gledhill QC said he had taken into account the fact Jones was given 18 months in 2020 for driving the stolen vehicle dangerously. He had been caught at the end of a police chase around Oxford on January 10, 2020, two days after the car was stolen.

“I have no idea why the theft of the motor vehicle was not charged as it ought to have been at the time of the dangerous driving,” the judge said – adding that he had ‘considerably’ reduced the sentence he would otherwise have passed.

Earlier, prosecutor Christopher Pembridge said an Amazon driver was robbed of his van as he carried out a drop-off in Nuneham Courtenay on January 4, 2020.

Inside were 107 parcels worth a total of £2,592. The van, which was driven off towards Oxford, was later recovered in Littlemore.

Police searched Jones’ mum’s home in Berinsfield in the wake of the robbery. Packaging could be seen outside the property and, when they went inside, the officers found various items stolen in the robbery. The goods were found ‘all over’ the house, including in Jones’ bedroom and the loft.

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Two men were seen fleeing the property when the police visited.

Jones was not arrested until January 10, by which time he had stolen a Vauxhall Antara from the driveway of a B&B in Kidlington.

Together with co-defendant Holden, he had booked to stay at the guesthouse on January 7 and stole the Vauxhall overnight. Photographs on a phone found in the dumped Antara showed both men driving around in the stolen car.

Jones, of Mere Road, Benson, admitted handling stolen goods and theft of a motor vehicle. He had what the judge called an ‘appalling’ record.

Mitigating, Gordana Austin said she could not understand why the car theft was not charged in 2020.

Her client had a poor record but wanted to turn his life around. With the help of his girlfriend he had given up drugs.

Judge Gledhill said of the 12 month sentence: “It’s as low as I can make it in the hope you’re telling the truth and you will do something about turning your life around.”

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward