March 2, 2001 9:56: TEENAGER Ricky Howell was responsible for a one-man crime wave including stealing bikes from a special school before turning to God for help.

Howell faced sentence at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on Monday for theft, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified and driving with no insurance, after pleading guilty to the offences at an earlier hearing on February 8.

His solicitor, Tan Ikram, defending, told the court how the 19-year-old, of Rutland Avenue, High Wycombe, who has a long list of previous convictions for handling stolen goods, had seen the light and was clutching the book of Psalms when he spoke to him.

He said: "He wants to keep himself out of trouble. He said in the past six or seven months he had started reading the book and that it had shown him respect for himself and others."

John Horn, prosecuting, said Howell had gone to Prestwood Lodge Special School for boys between May 26 and June 4, last year when a quad bike, go-kart and four crash helmets valued at £1,000, were stolen from a metal container.

The court heard Howell's fingerprints were found on the metal cage.

Mr Horn said Howell was also connected to burglary on November 30, in Hawthorn Crescent, Hazlemere, when jewellery, keys and a Ford Mondeo were stolen.

He was also involved in a two-car accident in Green Road, High Wycombe, and sped off in front of several police officers involved in another unrelated incident, on December 19.

He was pursued by officers who caught up with him in Green Hill but then lost him again and although they later caught up with him in Downley, he again managed to evade capture. Howell was finally arrested on January 3, and police found a stolen bike in his garden.

Mr Ikram said Howell admitted to assisting to remove the items in the metal cage but derived no benefit from the theft.

Mr Ikram said: "You are not going to be impressed by Howell's previous convictions. He is no stranger to the court, but there is light at the end of the tunnel."

He added Howell lived with his mother and had sent her a letter to say how sorry he was for the trouble he had caused, that he had a new girlfriend and wants to get back on the straight and narrow.

Howell was sentenced to six months in a young offenders' institution for the theft, four months concurrent for aggravated vehicle taking, three months concurrent for driving while disqualified and disqualified from driving for 12 months.