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A PAIR of crooks used a stolen van full of Christmas presents in a failed attempt to raid a garage in Wickford. Scott Stevens, 37, and Joseph Phillips, 22, changed the number plates on the vehicle and broke into a garage in Fourth Avenue, before being disturbed by a member of the public. The van was being used for Amazon deliveries and contained £1,000 worth of packages. Both men, who have previous for similar offences, escaped jail at Basildon Crown Court yesterday. Prosecuting Olivier Kirk said: “The two defendants admitted the offences at different stages, a stolen van was found worth about £1,000 with packages.
Ranging from paedophiles to robbers, the cases heard this week have been wide ranging. Here is a rundown of the key cases heard this week.
Sean Stifman Stifman, 31, previously of Norwich Avenue, Southend, has been jailed for four years and must serve six years on licence. Basildon Crown Court was told he was speaking to an undercover police officer, posing as a child. However, he had only been released from prison three weeks before. He had a mobile phone and was using social media, despite being ordered not to. During the hearing at Basildon Crown Court, Stifman admitted the charge of attempting to cause a child under 15 to have sex with him.
She said: “I arrived and there were officers on guard and firearm officers there too. They showed me where the gun was. It was in two black bin bags and out of one bag I could see the handle next to the trigger. I took swabs from five different areas of the gun which was broken and in two pieces in the two bags. There were no shells in the chamber of the gun.” A forensic scientist told the court a large amount of Saunders’ DNA was found on the gun. She explained her team examined the swabs taken by the crime scene investigating officer.
“A member of the public saw the van and both men had bolt clippers and the number plate was circulated. The defendants were found in the van and their DNA was found too. “The burglary was at garage and nothing was taken, both men denied the offences in their police interview.” Mitigating for Stevens, EmmaLouise Heath, told the court he has reading, writing and understanding difficulties and wants to make a new life for himself. She said: “There has been no offending since these matters and he says his motivation for this is his children. “He does seem to be turning around for his life.”