Prisoner who stole taxi to drive home 20 minutes after being released from jail was caught when he left his release papers on the front seat, court hears
- Gerard Graham, 31, was ‘too impatient’ to wait 20 minutes for bus to Aberdeen
- He stole a taxi from petrol station, but left his release papers on the front seat
- Graham’s own solicitor described his actions as ‘absolutely insane’
A clueless criminal who stole a taxi less than 30 minutes after he was released from prison was caught after leaving his release papers on the front seat.
Gerard Graham, 31, had only been released from HMP Grampian for 20 minutes before he stole the cab because he was ‘too impatient’ to wait for a short bus ride back to Aberdeen.
He grabbed the vehicle from a petrol station while the driver was paying for fuel, before breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s car where he left another damning piece of evidence behind – his prison travel voucher.
Graham was eventually traced to a residential street in Aberdeen the next day, where he was found to be in possession of a stolen bicycle.
He was put back behind bars for another 10 months, with his own exasperated solicitor describing the career criminal’s actions as ‘absolutely insane’.
Graham pleaded guilty to six charges at court, where he was told he will serve another 10 months behind bars and be banned from driving for more than a year.
Gerard Graham, 31, had only been released from HMP Grampian for 20 minutes before he stole the cab because he was ‘too impatient’ to wait for a short bus ride back to Aberdeen
The 31-year-old stole the minibus taxi from a petrol station in Peterhead before abandoning it in Aberdeen with the crucial clue, his release papers, still on display.
Fiscal depute Lucy Simpson said the taxi’s owner was paying for fuel when Graham jumped in and drove off on October 28 last year.
But that wasn’t the end of his ineptitude.
He next stole his ex-girlfriend’s car and left another damning piece of evidence behind – his prison travel voucher.
Graham has been now been placed back behind bars for another 10 months following the incidents with his own solicitor describing it as ‘absolutely insane.’
He was eventually traced in Millbank Lane the next day, in possession of a stolen bicycle.
Graham’s own lawyer, Alex Burn, branded the crime spree ‘absolutely insane’ before adding: ‘I don’t wish to be disparaging to Mr Graham.
‘However, this is perhaps some of the most inept and unsophisticated criminal behaviour I have ever seen.’
Graham pleaded guilty to six charges, including two thefts of a vehicle, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.
Sheriff Andrew Miller ordered Graham to serve a further 10 months of his unexpired sentence concurrent with an added 123 days for the latest offences.
He also banned him from the roads for 18 months.
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