Offender could not believe he was going back to prison for trying car door handles

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on July 18 how Joel Emmet, 37, of Derby Road, Chesterfield, was spotted by the complainant walking off his driveway at Whitecotes Lane, Chesterfield, and he got hold of the defendant before police arrived.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “The circumstances are that the complainant contacted the police just before midnight on Monday, July 16.

“He was at home and in his bedroom and he looked out of the window and saw a male walking off his driveway and he followed him and took hold of him and passing police arrived some time afterwards.”

Emmet told police he had lost £10 and was looking for it and that was why he was on the driveway.

The court heard that CCTV footage showed Emmet trying the door handle of a van which was parked on the complainant’s driveway.

Emmet, who has previous convictions and had only just been released from custody, said to police he could not believe he was going back to prison for trying car door handles after he was arrested.

The defendant pleaded guilty to interfering with a motor vehicle with the intention of committing a theft.

Defence solicitor Ben Strelley said Emmet was diagnosed with mental health difficulties in 2009 and he was in-and-out of hospital until 2011.

But after he was released he was struggling to cope with the changes in his life, according to Mr Strelley, and he started using pro-active substances and he could not fund his addiction by benefits alone.

Magistrates, who recognised Emmet has a history of breaching court orders, opted to sentenced him to eights weeks of custody and ordered him to pay a £115 victim surcharge.