Two years for boat thief

THE thief who broke into two narrowboats moored at Lapworth on the Grand Union Canal and also then robbed two boys on the towpath has been jailed for two years.

21 years old Mark Coffey, ripped open the hatch of the narrowboat La Valeria, that was moored at Lapworth, near the junction of the Grand Union and Stratford-on-Avon canals, and ransacked the interior stealing items worth a total of £2,497.

Took inverter

He even pulled the boat's inverter off the bulkhead, on which the owner heavily relied, so leaving him with no alternative but to obtain other living arrangements.

The second boat that Coffrey broke into was Lazy Lady, also moored at Lapworth, that was also ransacked and items stolen, with again its inverter being ripped off the bulkhead.

But he left his fingerprints on items in one boat, and this enabled the police to trace him, having a police record.

Accosted on towpath

During August two boys, aged 12 and 13, were riding along the towpath near the Drawbridge pub, at Hockley Heath, not realising in which direction they were heading when they asked Coffrey for directions.

But he followed the two boys on his own bike, forcing the younger of the two to stop, pushing him from his bike, demanding the boy's mobile, with the threat he would be in the canal if he did not hand it over, so he gave up his mobile.

He then went after the older of the two, again using the threat to push him into the canal if he did not give up his phone, which the boy did.

Arrested

But Coffey left his bike propped up against a pub wall, that was recognised and reported to the police. Officers immediately came to the pub and he was arrested, then later charged.

Coffrey gave the excuse that he was drinking too much as the reason for his attacks.