Brynhyfryd victim turned detective to find Penlan man who stole his van

A VICTIM turned detective to track down the person who stole his van while he was warming up the engine in his driveway.

Van owner Gary Howells was de-icing his white Renault van in the driveway of his home in Bryn Street, Brynhyfryd, on December 10.

He had left the keys in the ignition and the engine running when he went back inside his home.

Jason Carver, 31, of Heol Cadifor, Penlan, then took the van, driving it off.

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But determined not to be defeated, Mr Howells de-iced another vehicle and went to search for his van.

Prosecutor Linda Baker told Swansea Magistrates' Court he found it abandoned in Heol Frank, Penlan, around 30 minutes later.

"He looked around and could see two people in the nearby area and could see them going up the stairs into a flat," said Mrs Baker.

When police arrived and went into the flat they found Carver and another man.

As well as admitting a charge of aggravated vehicle taking, Carver also admitted theft from a motor vehicle including a sat nav, torch and a deer stalker hat.

The stolen items were found inside the flat which police searched, the court heard.

Carver appeared in court by videolink.

Magistrates imposed a two-month sentence for the offence of aggravated vehicle taking and a concurrent term of one month for theft. A 12-month driving ban was also imposed.