Brazen thief David Richardson stole priest's car

Nov 5 2009 The Journal

A BRAZEN thief has been jailed after stealing a priest’s car from outside his church.

David Richardson sneaked into the presbytery of Fr Denis O’Mahony, at St Cecilia’s Church, in Sunderland, and helped himself to his car keys.

Crack cocaine addict Richardson, who was more than twice over the drink drive limit and already been banned from the roads, then got in Father O’Mahony’s Vauxhall Astra and tried to drive off.

But he crashed into a wall and was forced to abandon the car and fled on foot.

Jane Hastings, prosecuting at Newcastle Court, said: “The priest was in the church and his car was parked on the drive of the presbytery. Richardson entered the presbytery and took the car keys and drove the Astra a short distance, damaging the car on a wall.”

Richardson, 19, of Fuller Road, Sunderland, had turned up at St Cecilia’s, on Ryhope Road, Sunderland, on May 13 this year around 8.40pm. When he was arrested he refused to answer police questions but a footwear impression found inside the church was examined and matched his shoes.