A High Wycombe man who stole a forklift truck, picked up a car with it and used it as a “battering ram” on his father’s home could face a lengthy prison sentence.

Graeme Stallwood Jnr, 49, of Chairborough Road, recklessly put his father’s life in danger when he bashed the house while the older man was still inside on October 23, 2021, a jury found on Monday (yesterday).

Stallwood Jnr had denied a charge of damaging property being reckless as to whether life is endangered, but was found guilty by a unanimous jury following a trial at Aylesbury Crown Court.

Bucks Free Press: Graeme Stallwood Jnr dug the forklift arms into his father's pickup truck as he picked it upGraeme Stallwood Jnr dug the forklift arms into his father's pickup truck as he picked it up

The offender is due to be sentenced at the same court on June 10, and has been remanded in custody until that date.

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Ahead of the trial, Stallwood Jnr had already pleaded guilty to several offences, including aggravated vehicle taking, criminal damage, failing to provide a specimen for analysis and driving without insurance, all in connection with the same incident.

Bucks Free Press: One of the forklift arms went through the tyre, puncturing itOne of the forklift arms went through the tyre, puncturing it

During the trial, the court heard how Stallwood Jnr stole the forklift from his employer, Graham Construction, flattening the business’s gates as he barged through them on his way out.

His destination was the home of his father, Graham Stallwood Snr, who lived alone with his dog in a house in Wycombe Road, Studley Green, a small village outside of High Wycombe.

Bucks Free Press: Stallwood Jnr caused around £5,000-worth of damage to his father's home (left) and destroyed a gate belonging to his employer, where he stole the forklift from (right)Stallwood Jnr caused around £5,000-worth of damage to his father's home (left) and destroyed a gate belonging to his employer, where he stole the forklift from (right)

When he arrived, Stallwood Jnr used the forklift to pick up his father’s black Nissan Navara pickup truck, and rammed it into the back of the house, smashing a window and cracking the wall.

Mr Stallwood Snr was at home watching television when his son arrived in the forklift truck, and he told the court he was afraid he would die in the incident.

He said: “I thought he was coming through the house. I thought he was going to put the car inside.

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“When I saw it coming towards me, I thought that was it, really. I thought it was going to hit me.”

Bucks Free Press: Stallwood Jnr smashed a window and cracked a wall using the forklift truckStallwood Jnr smashed a window and cracked a wall using the forklift truck

Stallwood Jnr denied that he had recklessly put his father’s life at risk, but the jury found otherwise, and delivered a unanimous guilty verdict.

Following the verdict, the court heard how Stallwood had several previous convictions, and that he was jailed in 2006 for a charge of arson endangering life.

The court heard that could receive several years in prison when he is sentenced in June.

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