Joshua Matthew Tiffin, aged 30 and of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 19 April 2018 after he admitted an offence of taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent and was found guilty of four charges of possessing a knife or bladed article in a public place and an offence of theft.
At around 8am on Tuesday 30 January 2018 a man aged in his 40s had left his grey Vauxhall Astra outside his home in Coronation Road in Bridport with the keys in the ignition and engine running while the ice melted on the windscreen.
A witness saw three men near to the vehicle before one of them got in and drove off.
While the victim was on the phone to police, Tiffin returned in the car and challenged him, claiming it was ‘just a joke’.
Tiffin was arrested later that day in Bridport.
At around 2am on Sunday 4 March 2018 police in Bridport attended an address in Princess Road following a report that a number of men were at the property and refusing to leave.
It was also claimed that Tiffin had taken eggs and other items from the fridge as well as knives from the property.
An officer went to stop Tiffin at the communal door to the address but the defendant made off. His jacket came off during the incident and a number of items were recovered including two knives, a small saw, a small axe, six eggs and a bottle of tomato sauce.
Tiffin was located by officers on Wednesday 14 March 2018 and arrested for the bladed article offences and theft.
Inspector Neil Wood, of Bridport police, said: “Joshua Tiffin’s offending has understandably caused concern in the local community and I am pleased that we have been able to bring him before the courts.
“We will continue to take action to target offenders whose behaviour impacts on local residents and will respond to any concerns raised by members of the public.”
