Home   News   Article

Subscribe Now

Judge can’t sentence prolific Newbury criminal Stewart Perry…because he’s in a wheelchair




A JUDGE was unable to sentence a wheelchair-bound criminal – because police and prison transport services were inadequately equipped.

Stewart Perry from Newbury appeared at Reading Crown Court on Friday, February 14, where he was due to be sentenced for lawbreaking including violence and serious motoring offences.

Stewart Perry pictured in 2016
Stewart Perry pictured in 2016

Specifically, the 44-year-old, who had been living at High Gardens and also care of Monks Lane, both in Newbury, had been convicted of driving an MG car dangerously in Newbury in High Garden, Woodlands View and Great Crescent.

Next, he was convicted of causing more than £5,000 worth of damage to a home in Woodlands View.

Both those offences were committed on November 7, 2023.

Perry had denied them both but was convicted following a trial.

Furthermore, Perry had admitted using violence to gain entry to a home in High Garden, in Newbury on September 13, 2023.

In addition, he admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards Emily Green, Amanda Maggs, Dana Smith and Emma Shepherd on the same occasion.

The court heard Perry had made a death threat during the incident.

Judge Alan Blake said: “The threat to kill involved another neighbour in the area where other matters are said to have happened.”

He remarked that there were also outstanding offences of driving while disqualified and failing to provide a specimen for analysis when suspected of having committed an offence.

Perry has numerous previous convictions, too.

In 2016 magistrates made him subject to a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for his “aggressive and intimidating” persistent shoplifting.

At the time, prosecutor Helen Waite said: “This defendant has already received a suspended sentence for an assault committed during the course of an attempted shoplifting at Sainsbury’s.

“During a number of shopliftings when he has been apprehended by store staff he has behaved in an aggressive and intimidating way towards them… and we’re not talking £20 worth here and there; he is stealing quite substantial amounts.”

Despite all parties being present at Friday’s hearing, Judge Blake said he was unable to proceed to sentence.

He explained: “There is a real possibility of a custodial sentence.

“But the cells downstairs are simply not able to deal with a defendant with mobility issues; the police cells haven’t been willing to take someone with the defendant’s difficulty and there is no vehicle available to transport him [to prison].”

Judge Blake said some of the above matters had hitherto been due to be sentenced by Reading magistrates.

He added: “It seems eminently sensible to me to have all these matters dealt with at the same time.”

Sentencing was adjourned until April, when arrangements could be made for a wheelchair-bound defendant to be transported, if necessary, to prison.

Perry was meanwhile released on conditional bail and made subject to an interim driving ban.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More