Man raided lorry while driver slept in cab

Feb 20 2008 by Aaron Boland, Liverpool Daily Post

A LORRY driver who slept overnight in his wagon awoke to find his load was 2½ tons lighter.

He had arrived outside The Book People warehouse in Millfield Lane, Haydock, in the early hours of the morning, and when he found it was closed slept the night in his cab.

When he awoke he found the trailer curtain had been slashed and 2,350 books, worth a total of £6,152, had been stolen, Roy Brown, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court yesterday .

Police found blood on the cardboard packaging, which was later found to belong to Paul Price.

Price, 30, of County Road, Kirkby, admitted theft on April 26, 2006.

The judge, Recorder William Smith, said Price, who has numerous previous offences, had spurned community sentences in the past but there appeared to have been a change in his attitude since the offence.

He imposed a 12 month jail sentence suspended for two years, placed him under supervision for two years and imposed a three month curfew.

Simon Christie, defending, said the offence had been committed in drink with undesirable companions. Price’s behaviour had changed, and he had not committed any other offences.