Crime spree couple from Ruddington to be sentenced at Nottingham Magistrates' Court
A couple who went on an afternoon crime spree cuddled, clasped hands and affectionately kissed in the dock while awaiting their fate.
Jordan Baxter, 28, who had 16 prior convictions for 34 offences, and first time offender Charlotte Brown, 23, who both live at Dunblane Road, Ruddington, were acquitted of two charges relating to their splurge in Bingham at trial at Nottingham Magistrates' Court, but had already admitted a number of others.
They fall to be sentenced on March 24.
The crime spree began when Baxter, who has served time for dangerous driving while disqualified, attempted robbery and drugs possession, bought a car that he seen on Facebook from a man in Radford on the morning of September 26 last year.
Dennis Quinn, prosecuting, said police responded to a report of a silver Citroen driving erratically in Bingham.
A patrol car encountered the car at traffic lights at the junction of Nottingham Road, Fairfield Street and Tithby Road.
The officer activated his siren and blue lights and pursued the car on to The Banks.
Mr Quinn said the officer believed the car was going to fail to stop. However, it was corralled by parked cars and a vehicle approaching from the other direction, allowing the officer to get the occupants out of the vehicle.
Brown stumbled out of the passenger door, said Mr Quinn, followed by Baxter because the driver's door wasn't working and had almost fallen off when he had tried to open it earlier.
Mr Quinn said Baxter fell out and was very unsteady on his feet.
Mr Quinn said checks revealed the vehicle was reported as being off the road and did not have an MOT or insurance and it was seized.
There was a box of Coors Light beer in the passenger side footwell and a black-handled kitchen knife was found.
Giving evidence, both Baxter and Brown denied any knowledge of the knife.
Emma Whybourn, defending, said neither Baxter or Brown's fingerprints were on the knife and it could not be forensically linked to them.
Baxter claimed that when he had bought the vehicle there were still items from the previous owner inside.
"I'm aware I shouldn't have been driving through alcohol," Baxter said: "I was in a bit of trouble."
He said that after buying the car they had been driving around, parking up in various locations and drinking.
Mr Quinn said the knife was so large it would have been difficult to miss, but Miss Whybourn said the police had provided no evidence as to where it was in the footwell, and it could have been secreted under the seat before the car was purchased.
Miss Whybourn said the police had provided no evidence the vehicle was an un-licensed vehicle and invited the magistrates to clear Baxter of that offence.
The bench accepted these arguments and found Baxter not guilty of using a non-licensed vehicle and possession of a knife. Brown was found not guilty of possession of the knife.
Mr Quinn then informed them of the admissions to the other offences, saying Baxter had blown 85mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35.
Baxter had admitted drink-driving, diving while disqualified, driving without insurance and theft of £40.75 of fuel from the petrol station at East Bridgford.
Brown, who had never been arrested before and shed tears during the trial, admitted being drunk and disorderly, possession of an offensive weapon — a shard of glass — and the theft of the fuel.
A charge of theft of bottles of gin and vodka from Aldi in Bingham levelled against the couple was dismissed after the store's deputy manager refused to give evidence because he was denied the opportunity to give it behind a screen.
Baxter and Brown, who will also be sentenced on an unrelated theft, were released on conditional bail.
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