Man jailed for seven years after stealing BBC car from Plymouth studio

A man who snuck into BBC South West offices in Plymouth, swiped keys to a BBC car and then ran amok with it for more than a month has been jailed.

Adam Crawford, aged 38, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Wednesday [November 27] where he pleaded guilty to a slew of offences in the Newcastle area but also to offences in Plymouth - namely a burglary and theft of a car from the BBC's Plymouth offices in Seymour Road on September 5 this year.

Police had been alerted to the incident by BBC bosses and after viewing CCTV security footage carried out inquiries which led them to identifying Crawford. Further inquiries led them to HMP Winchester where he was being held on remand for other offences.

Crawford told detectives from Devon and Cornwall Police he had fallen asleep on the train and woke up at Plymouth. He claimed he walked to Seymour Road and at around 3.30pm effectively tailgated a member of BBC staff who was entering the building to bypass the security system.

Having gained entry to the main reception and despite having no formal ID badge identifying him as BBC staff, he again did the same tailgating trick to enter the main part of the building.

Crawford then walked to a kitchenette area where he gained access to a small unit on a wall which housed keys for the BBC South West's pool cars. The unit - which also used a security measure which requires a staff ID badge - was opened by Crawford and, after cutting a security wire, he took keys to a white Ford Fiesta car in the nearby car park.

Further inquiries revealed that after leaving the BBC's Seymour Road car park Crawford drove around the city before leaving it at around 4pm, heading towards Bournemouth, arriving there at 8.30pm the same day.

The Ford Fiesta was found abandoned in Bournemouth on October 12 and recovered by police, with its doors open. Inside the vehicle officers from Dorset Police found discarded blue gloves, tools and screwdrivers.

It is understood the BBC was unaware of the burglary and theft of the car for around two weeks and only alerted to the crimes after they were sent multiple speeding and parking tickets.

The first was on September 6 at 1.29am issued by Dorset Police on the A338 in Wessex Way, Bournemouth. Another followed on the same day - at 2.23am issued by Dorset Police on A3060 Castle Lane East junction near Bournemouth. The car also received a parking charge at 3.56pm on September 6 at a location in Poole, Dorset.

Another parking charge was given on September 7 at the Hotel Collingwood and Fairmount Hotel in Bournemouth and on September 8, shortly after 9.13pm, the car was given another speeding ticket by Dorset Police on A338 Blackwater on-slip near Bournemouth.

On September 25, at 4.20am, the car accrued yet another speeding ticket issued by Dorset Police at Turbary Park Avenue, Bournemouth.

Crawford, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to all the offences relating to the Plymouth incident. Judge Evans KC handed him a five months sentence for the burglary non-dwelling, two months for the taking a motor vehicle without consent and no separate penalty for driving the motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence and using a motor vehicle on a road without third party insurance.

However, with regards to the other offences which Bournemouth Crown Court has confirmed to PlymouthLive Crawford had appeared and pleaded guilty to - including six counts of burglary - he was handed a total of 88 months in jail - seven years and four months.

He was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 50 months - four years and two months.

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