'Trio of fools' sentenced for 'extremely selfish' behaviour after TT joyride

Three men took Audi from resident's driveway in early hours of morning

Three men who took a Manx resident’s car ‘for a joyride’ in the early hours of the morning during TT have been described as a ‘trio of fools’.

Asad Awan, Muhammad Umer Chatha and Kian Patel were sentenced at Douglas Courthouse today (27 June) after taking the Audi RS3 without the owner’s consent on 9 June.

They’d been spoken to by police near to Mylchreests Motors, at 3.50am, after reports they were acting suspiciously – they were told to leave the area which they did.

At 5.30am the same day the vehicle owner, who lives on nearby Saddle Road, woke to find his car, which he'd left unlocked, had been taken from the driveway of his property.

TWOC

CCTV from his home showed the three men walking past before Awan, who is from Manor Woods in Douglas, came back, got in the car and drove it away.

The court was told the keys to the Audi, which has keyless ignition, were in a golf bag within the vehicle which meant the 22-year-old was able to start it without having them in his hand.

In court today Awan admitted the TWOC offence as well as having no insurance to drive the car which was found, undamaged, near to his home in the car park of Scoill Vallajeelt.

Chatha, who is 22 and from Green Lane in London, and Patel - who is 21 and from Woodland Grange in Buckinghamshire - admitted allowing themselves to be carried in the vehicle.

All three had been arrested and kept in custody for 28-30 hours whilst they were interviewed.

'Inexplicably stupid decision'

Awan told police he’d decided to go for a joyride but had realised that what he was doing was wrong: “He quickly realised the error of his ways,” the prosecutor added.

Chatha told officers he was so drunk he’d thought the Audi was an Uber and had fallen asleep after he’d got it in it.

Patel said his recollection was ‘sketchy’ due to the amount of alcohol he’d consumed but he remembered Awan driving past him and telling him to get in the car; he too said he’d fallen asleep.

Awan’s advocate, Peter Russell, described the idea to take the car as an ‘inexplicably stupid decision’ adding: “This goes beyond hijinks.”

His actions, Mr Russell said, would have ‘potentially serious ramifications’ on his future career choices and any financial penalty imposed would have to be met by his dad.

“His father is completely mortified by his actions,” he added.

Chatha’s advocate, David Reynolds, said the university student had come to the Island the night before to watch the TT and had ended up drinking heavily: “He is really embarrassed by his actions,” he explained.

Patel’s advocate, Steve Wood, described the three men - who have no previous convictions - as a ‘trio of fools’ with High Bailiff Jayne Hughes exclaiming ‘intelligent fools it would seem!’

Mr Wood said it had been ‘a long walk back from town’ for the three men adding it was concerning to see young professionals ‘risking so much’ for such little gain.

“He’s made a grave error of judgement on this occasion,” he added.

Fine and penalty points

Sentencing the three men High Bailiff Hughes told them: “You were, as your advocates have accepted, all in this together.

“Your actions were foolish – they were also extremely selfish.”

Fining each man £700, and ordering each to pay £125 in prosecution costs, she added: “There seems to be no proper explanation as to why you did what you did. I hope you have learnt from your mistake.”

Awan was also fined an additional £300 for driving without insurance – all three will have their driving licences endorsed with eight penalty points.

Letters of apology, written by the men, will be given to the man whose car was taken.