Teenager stole, then found God

Howell faced Wycombe magistrates on Monday to be sentenced for theft, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified and driving with no insurance.

But his solicitor Tan Ikram, defending, told magistrates how the 19-year-old, who has a long list of previous convictions for handling stolen goods, had now seen the light and had been clutching the book of Psalms when he spoke to him.

He added: "He says he wants to keep himself out of trouble. He had the book of Psalms in his hand when I spoke to him and said 'I have been thinking a lot'. 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."

Howell, of Rutland Avenue, High Wycombe, pleaded guilty on February 8 to the four offences.

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

Mr Horn said Howell was also connected to a burglary on November 30 in Hawthorn Cresent, Hazlemere.

On December 19 he was involved in a two-car accident in Green Road, High Wycombe, and sped off in front of several police officers. Howell was arrested on January 3 this year and police found a stolen bike in his garden.

Mr Ikram, mitigating, said Howell had admitted to assisting to remove the items but that he derived no benefit from the theft.

Mr Ikram added: "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."

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 he was disqualified from driving for 12 months.