10 month prison sentence for man who stole and crashed his grandmother’s car

A MAN who seriously injured his cousin after crashing a car he stole from his grandmother has been sentenced to 10 months in prison.

Leejay Richards, aged 23, of Llanwrtyd Wells, crashed the Renault Clio into the Premier Stores in Llanwrtyd Wells after driving it back from visiting a pub in Builth Wells in the early hours of Friday, 24 January, 2020.

The extent of the damage means the shop has been closed since, with three-way traffic lights managing traffic around the damaged building.

His cousin, Lee William Richards, aged 18, who suffered serious injuries was also convicted of taking a vehicle without consent.

PC Protheroe, from Dyfed-Powys Police’s serious collision investigations unit, said: “Both of these men refused to cooperate with our investigations, so I am particularly pleased we have secured justice for the people of Llanwrtyd Wells.

“Their actions have caused considerable hardship on their own community through the pandemic with their only local shop closed by their reckless actions.”

The pair appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court for sentencing on Wednesday, 3 February, 2021.

Leejay Richards was sentenced to 10 months in prison for aggravated vehicle taking, with another six months, to run concurrently for causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He was also banned from driving for 29 months, after which time he will have to sit an extended test.

Lee William Richards was handed a two-year community order, given 100 hours of unpaid work and made the subject of a three-month tagged curfew between the hours of 8pm and 7am. He was banned from driving for 12 months.