An 18-year-old man from Cowes has appeared in court and pleaded guilty to 2 charges of vehicle interference after being caught in the act by a Ring doorbell.
Haydn Reilly, of The Chandlers in Cowes, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Tuesday (15th February) charged with 2 counts of the interference of a motor vehicle on Admiral’s Way on 27th September last year.
The court heard that Reilly was caught trying the door handles of 2 vehicles parked on a driveway by a Ring doorbell, which the vehicle’s owner used to identify the crime. No damage was caused and access to the vehicles wasn’t gained.
Reilly initially denied the act when interviewed by Police, despite seeing the footage, but pleaded guilty at the first opportunity in court.
Magistrates heard that the 18-year-old was last in court in November 2021 for drugs offences that have not yet been concluded in the Crown Court.
Defending, Oscar Vincent said that his client – an apprentice carpenter – had been celebrating the birthday of 2 friends and had consumed alcohol, which he rarely does. Mr Vincent said that Reilly had no recollection of the incident and insisted it was not something he would normally do.
Sentencing Haydn Reilly to a 6-month conditional discharge, the chair of the bench said: “you can’t go around fiddling with other people’s vehicles”.
He was looking for an unlocked car to see if he could rob something from it. He’s what they call an Opportunist Thief. Looking for something to rob so he could sell it and get money for his filthy drug habit no doubt.