Four men jailed for almost 10 years over car thieving spree

Noah Mulligan, 21; Jordan Whittam, 20; Samuel Walmsley, 20; and Kevin Docherty, 27, appeared at Preston Crown Court earlier this week charged with conspiracy to commit theft of a motor vehicle.

Jordan Whittam (Image: Lancs Police)

Walmsley, Whittam and Mulligan were also charged with conspiracy to burgle, and Docherty was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, two counts of driving while disqualified and two counts of handling stolen goods.

On a separate indictment, Whittam and Mulligan were charged with being concerned in the supply of cannabis, with Whittam further charged with possession with intent to supply cannabis.

All the offences took place in Clitheroe between August and October last year in which two high value Range Rovers, together worth around £40,000, were stolen overnight from the drives of their owners by Docherty.

Kevin Docherty (Image: Lancs Police)

CCTV footage from first incident showed Docherty being dropped off at one of the properties by some of the other defendants.

The court heard how phone analysis showed Docherty had been in communications with another person discussing how to use coding to break into and access people’s vehicles without the use of keys.

Prosecuting, Ben Berkson said then, in October, the first of two house burglaries took place in which keys were taken from a property in Hayhurst Street and a van worth £13,500 stolen, which contained tools worth £3,000.

Mr Berkson said: “All four defendants were in the van, with Docherty driving, despite being disqualified.

Noah Mulligan (Image: Lancs Police)

“They were caught after cell site activity identified their phones as being in the area when they went joyriding in the van, sending Snapchats to their friends.

“Walmsley even took a video of the van being driven outside his house and in one of the Snapchats someone can be heard saying ‘van thief, it’s going to my mate in Bradford’.

“Docherty also sends messages from his phone to a contact about his intentions to sell the van, while a video found on Whittam’s phone showed Docherty changing the registration plates on the van.

“The following night, Whittam, Mulligan and Walmsley were involved in another burglary in Taylor Street, where they entered a house and stole bank cards, £250 in cash and a phone.

“The cards were later used to withdraw £750 in cash, with the householder only becoming aware of what happened when a stranger knocked on her door and returned a rucksack which they had found discarded on the floor.”

Samuel Walmsley (Image: Lancs Police)

Mr Berkson said again a video from Whittam’s phone showed cash and the stolen bank cards, and Docherty, although not directly involved in the burglary, was known to be in the company of the other three defendants shortly after the incident, with further videos showing the defendants fist pumping each other.

On October 7, three days later, an Audi A3 was stolen from another Clitheroe address, and police became aware from reports, that a vehicle matching its description and containing some males wearing hoods, had been spotted, with the males seen trying car door handles.

Mr Berkson went on: “The police located the Audi, but it failed to stop, and a short pursuit ensued which ended when the car crashed into a traffic island.”

The defendants escaped but were located not long after and all four were arrested.

The arrests culminated in a search of Whittam’s house, where 158g of cannabis divided into 1.5g bags was found along with £730 in cash. Police also recovered two machetes.

On Whittam’s phone were videos of cash, and text messages relating to blatant drug supply.

Mulligan’s phone was also analysed, and police discovered messages pertaining to his involvement with the supply of drugs.

He had even posted to his Instagram stories, boasting about having cannabis available.

Recorder Daniel Prowse, in sentencing, said: “All of you chose to go joyriding in the stolen van and Snapchatted your friends.

“You were celebrating and revelling in your criminality.

“The impact on your victims has been profound. And you all played an important role in this conspiracy to steal.”

Mulligan, of Petre Crescent, Rishton, was jailed for two years, six months.

Whittam, of Cross Street, Great Harwood, was jailed for two years, seven months.

Walmsley, of Cliffe Lane, Great Harwood, was jailed for two years, four months.

Docherty, of Beaconsfield Street, Great Harwood, was jailed for two years, six months, and was disqualified from driving for two years and nine months.