Ashford thief stole and crashed his cancer-suffering gran’s mobility car
A heartless burglar was shopped to police by his cancer-suffering grandmother after he stole and crashed her mobility car. Sean Charles's poorly nan was said to have been left so scared and "at the end of her tether" by his deceit that she broke down and resorted to locking her doors to family.
Canterbury Crown Court heard she told police her grandson was to blame for the theft after discovering the Kia Niro, which was registered to her dementia-stricken husband, had been found abandoned and severely damaged following a smash in Ashford on October 16 last year. She also informed officers he had recently been freed from prison and, when he was arrested two days later, homeless Charles confessed: "I knew I was wanted.
I'm guilty for all of it. It also transpired that the 38-year-old, who has never taken a driving test, was on bail at the time for crashing another car while three times the drink-drive limit and then headbutting a constable while being detained. Now, the crook has been told by a judge that a spell behind bars is the only appropriate punishment for what was "a breach of the love and trust" of someone who "gave so much" to him over the years.
The court heard Charles, formerly from the Kennington area of the town, first came to police attention just before 8am on September 29 last year when a member of the public reported a Nissan Micra having ploughed into a fencepost in Newtown Green. The driver was said to be wobbly on his feet and barely able to stand when he got out of the vehicle, which was half on the road and half on a verge.
Officers arrived to discover the Micra, which Charles did not have permission to drive, had also hit two parked vehicles - a VW Caddy van and a Land Rover Sport - before colliding with the post. In the meantime, he had fled to a nearby block of flats where he was seen kicking one of the doors, leaving a boot mark.
Then, on arrest about 30 minutes later, he became agitated and aggressive, kicking out at officers as they tried to put him in a patrol car.
He was even described as "growling as if to bite" before he undid his seatbelt, launched himself at a constable and headbutted him to his cheek, leaving a red mark. Charles, who also had no insurance to drive, subsequently gave an alcohol reading of 105 micrograms in breath. The legal limit is 35.
It was not said in court who the Nissan belonged to other than it had been taken off the owner's driveway overnight. The Land Rover he had hit was also substantially damaged and had to be written off. Barely a fortnight later and having been released on bail, Charles targeted his relatives' home, the court heard.
Unbeknown to them, he had turned up at the address, taken the keys to the Kia from their lounge and driven away, only to crash while on the A28 Chart Road.
Again, he fled, leaving the vehicle on a verge and with an empty wine bottle in a passenger footwell.
Picture: Facebook
Police checks revealed the identity of the registered owner and officers, in turn, learnt the culprit's identity. At a hearing in May, prosecutor Rio Pahlavanpour told the court: "She (the grandmother) stated she believed it would have been Sean Charles, her grandson, who was responsible, adding he had recently been released from prison. "She confirmed she had been unaware it had been taken and that no one else other than another grandson had permission to drive it."
But it was in her statement to police and read during proceedings that the full, devastating impact of Charles's behaviour and criminality was revealed.
Having described the stress of her and her husband's diagnoses, her mobility issues, plus the fact the car not only contained her walker but was needed to attend numerous medical appointments, she wrote: "This incident has finally caused me to come to the end of my tether and I can't deal with it any further. "My house was always unlocked and family would come by and were always welcome. We have now locked all our doors and I fear if Sean is released he will come to my address.
"I have supported him through his life and tried to get him through his hardest times but enough is enough. I cannot do it anymore.
"The stress of everything going on in my life and then this has caused me to break down to my son.
"The incident is the last straw and I feel like I cannot deal with it anymore." The court also heard how she had supported her grandchild over the years by feeding him or taking him shopping.
However, she said any money she gave him would be spent on drink and drugs. Charles, of no fixed address, later admitted burglary, two offences of aggravated vehicle taking, assault on an emergency worker, drink-driving, criminal damage, two offences of driving without a licence and two of driving without insurance. He now has a total of 15 convictions for 33 offences to his name, with more than 20 of those having been committed since 2023 and after a crime-free gap of seven years.
Lucy O'Donnell, defending, explained homelessness was the root cause of the defendant's offending and how, having been in custody since his arrest, he wanted to stay locked up and tackle the substance misuse problems plaguing his life.
"He accepts that what he did on both occasions was wrong and is why he pleaded guilty at the first opportunity," she said. "He has expressed extreme remorse to me and the reason for his offending is homelessness. He doesn't put that forward as an excuse but it gives rise to the unusual circumstance that he is asking to remain in custody.
"He has been told there is no accommodation available to him at this time and he wants the court to know that while he accepts his offending is wrong, he suspects that should he be made homeless again, he will be put in a position where he is likely to reoffend."
Sentencing had originally been delayed from last month to this week for an updated probation report and, following another overnight adjournment, Charles returned on Wednesday (June 4) to learn his fate. On passing sentence, Recorder Matthew Hellens remarked that aside from Charles's acknowledgement that his once "very good relationship" with his grandmother had become strained by his behaviour, the latest report made "disappointing" reading and did not give "confidence for the future". Highlighting the offences against his grandparent in particular, the judge said: "It appears from what I read that this is a grandmother, a loving grandmother, who did everything she could for her grandson.
"No other sentence other than custody will suffice. Sean Charles abused the trust of someone who has loved and cared for him for so many years, somebody who has given so much for him and finds herself in a position where she is wrung out by him."
In concluding that there was no realistic prospect of rehabilitation or any strong personal mitigation that would enable him to suspend a prison term, Recorder Hellens jailed Charles for a total of 20 months and banned him from driving for two years. Speaking directly to Charles, the judge then expressed his hope that he could once again lead a trouble-free life, adding: "I see you nodding and I suspect it was no surprise to you what I have had to say.
"I suspect the biggest part of this sentence is the disappointment you have caused your family - a loving grandmother who has done everything for you.
"You have a lot to do to put that right.
Do everything you can."