One-man crime wave caught

A ONE-MAN crime wave hit a town when a young thief was freed early from prison, a court was told yesterday.

Darren Machon, 22, committed 75 new offences, mainly in Bridgend, South Wales, in just 90 days after being released on probation for good behaviour, including stealing cars worth more than pounds 300,000.

Lee Ingham, for the prosecution, told Cardiff Crown Court that Machon was released on probation last October after being jailed for 18 months last June. "But less than a week later he stole a Vauxhall Astra and three months after that he had taken 28 cars. He was arrested last December and admitted three crimes. Machon was granted bail but it proved no deterrent. He was picked up again when police cornered him after a high-speed chase in a stolen car."

Among other charges, Machon, of Maesteg, Mid Glamorgan, admitted theft, stealing cars, handling stolen goods and criminal damage. He asked for 65 crimes to be taken into consideration. He was sentenced to two years.