Two hardened serial criminals with a huge list of nearly 200 previous offences between them callously stole a vulnerable man's mobility vehicle from outside his home in the early hours – before driving off in it.
They escaped with a large haul of stolen property but the "disability-adapted" vehicle was later spotted by police, who used a tyre-bursting "stinger" to bring it to a stop.
The two burglars – one of them a convicted prison mutineer – later claimed that they were "disgusted" to discover that the vehicle belonged to a vulnerable man and that they had "no idea" that he had mobility difficulties, Hull Crown Court heard.
Jason Ginnever, 47, of Brooklands Road, off Spring Bank West, Hull, and Michael Vine, 48, of Dorchester Road, Bransholme, admitted two offences of burglary and another of stealing a blue Ford Transit Tourneo vehicle on August 2.
Jennifer Gatland, prosecuting, said that a man woke up in the night and heard the sound of his neighbour's mobility vehicle being moved outside his home in Wrangbrook Close, Howden, in the early hours.
Ginnever and Vine drove the car on the street and then got out of it. They carried boxes of property, including items taken from inside the vehicle owner's home, and put them in the Ford Transit Tourneo, which had been "disability-adapted" and was valued at £30,000.
The mobility vehicle owner was woken by his neighbour at 3am and he was told that his vehicle had been stolen. The next day, the vehicle owner realised that a box of watches, valued at about £4,000, and a laptop were missing as well as a wallet, a bank card and £60 cash. "The garage doors were open," said Miss Gatland.
The raiders had got into the premises through an open bedroom window. The occupier of a nearby house was woken at 4.30am by a neighbour and he was told that there had been a burglary on the street and to check his property.
"He went into the garden and saw that his garage door was wide open," said Miss Gatland. Items including a leaf blower, a drill, a chain saw and beer had been stolen.
Police later spotted the stolen vehicle and used a stinger device, causing the tyres to deflate. The vehicle drifted across the road in the Skidby roundabout area.
"No one was actually in the driver's seat," said Miss Gatland. "The vehicle came to a stop.
"Police found the defendants, both of them, lying in the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle itself was stolen and it was being used as a getaway vehicle."
The stolen items were found as well as a balaclava and black gloves. Ginnever had convictions for 128 previous offences, including 51 theft-related, and being jailed for 14 weeks in November 2020 for attempted burglary.
He was jailed for 20 months in December 2021 for taking part in a prison mutiny. Vine had convictions for 64 previous offences, including 41 theft-related.
Amber Hobson, mitigating, said that it was a spontaneous, impulsive burglary. Ginnever claimed that it was a snood, not a balaclava, and that he had not taken it with him for any criminal purpose.
He had been out of trouble for about three years at the time. He was trying to get contact with his children at the time but he was being refused access and found this "incredibly upsetting and distressing" because of the problems caused to him.
"He simply lost the plot and fell back into negative habits and misused drugs," said Miss Hobson. Vine helped him to cope. Ginnever claimed that, on the night of the offences, Vine lost his wallet and, because they were "stranded in a strange area", they decided to carry out the burglary.
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Ginnever claimed that he had no idea about the vulnerability of the mobility car owner and that he was "completely disgusted" about the distress caused to someone vulnerable. "He wants to apologise," said Miss Hobson.
Oliver Shipley, representing Vine, said that the defendant was contacted by Ginnever, who was in a very low place and he turned to Vine for some support. Vine was going through trouble in his own life because he had just come out of a 20-year relationship.
"It's clear that something has gone wrong that night and it has spiralled out of control," said Mr Shipley. "They ended up 30 miles from home. It was a moment of utter stupidity. He is extremely sorry and is disgusted with himself.
"None of this was targeted offending. He is disgusted to learn of the effect that this has had on the complainant. It's accepted that Vine was the driver of the vehicle."
Judge Tahir Khan KC said: "The fact that each of you has a long history of criminality is an aggravating feature of the offences. It must have been clear to you that this was a mobility vehicle. It was worth £30,000."
Both men were jailed for 21 months. They were already in custody on remand.
