Teen jailed after car theft

Saturday 27 April 2019

An 18-year-old has been sentenced to 14 months youth detention for a number of charges, including stealing a car.

On 14 March, Megan Lewell took an Audi A1 from Mon Plasir in St Peter Port without consent, after finding keys to the vehicle in the glovebox.

In the early hours of the following morning, Guernsey Police received reports of the vehicle acting suspiciously and officers set out to find it. They came across the car on Vale Avenue at around 02:50 and ordered the driver to stop, at which point Lewell sped off.

Police chased the car around the north of the island at an estimated 50-70mph, with the stolen vehicle at times driving on the wrong side of the road. Officers noted there were four passengers in the car, two of which appeared to be filming the pursuit on their mobile phones.

Pictured: Police turned blue lights on ordering the defendant to stop (file image).

After a second response vehicle arrived, Lewell was said to have put her hand out of the window with her middle finger up.

A further two vehicles were called which she avoided by "hitting the curb hard" onto a cycle path. The second police vehicle eventually managed to cut off Lewell's route forcing her to come to a stop.

When officers approached the car the defendant appeared to be typing on her phone and went on to swear at them during her arrest.

In her defence, Advocate Lockwood said Lewell had been assisted by a friend 11 years older than her who had used "aggressive peer pressure". He claimed "panic, adrenaline and alcohol" has caused the defendant to make an "incredibly foolish decision". Although she had been drinking alcohol, Lewell was not over the limit.

She entered guilty pleas at the first opportunity.

"It is not disputed that the custody threshold is crossed," said Judge McKerrell on sentencing. "You put a number of people at risk, including yourself. At the end of the day you have committed serious offences."

Lewell was sentenced for taking without consent, disorderly behaviour, driving while disqualified, failing to obey police when ordered to stop, dangerous driving and driving with no insurance.

On top of youth detention, she has been given a three year driving ban and a £250 compensation order for the damage of the Audi A1.

"The sentences are so serious that a non-custodial sentence cannot be justified," concluded Judge McKerrell.