A man has been sent back to jail after stealing a delivery van while the driver delivered a parcel.

George Ashman, 23, of no fixed address, had been released on licence from prison when he carried out the crime in Upper Brighton Road, Surbiton on April 7 at about 3pm.

He pleaded guilty to theft of a motor vehicle, attempted theft of the contents of the vehicle and two counts of driving without a licence and insurance when he appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, May 29.

Ashman was sentenced to eight weeks in prison and had his licence revoked for a previous burglary conviction.

He will also serve the remaining three months of his existing 32-month sentence for burglary. 

During the hearing the court heard how a witness saw a van parking in front of the delivery vehicle on the day, before a man jumped out of the passenger side and ran to the delivery van and drove off in it.

When officers arrived the delivery driver told them he had left his van unattended to deliver a parcel, but when he returned shortly after the vehicle had just disappeared.

Police officers carrying out enquiries were told by a witness that a delivery van was seen driving to some garages in Worcester Park.

As officers arrived they saw the delivery van parked next to an open garage and a man unloading parcels into it.

When the man saw police he dropped a parcel and ran off, but was later found by police.

PC Will Ross, from Kingston police, said: “Ashman was given a chance to mend his ways having been released early for a conviction, however he chose to continue in the path of crime.”