A delivery driver who made an audacious theft just days into his new job has managed to avoid a prison sentence.

Clifford Wyatt, 43, had only been employed by Bramhall Transport in Warrington for six days when he stole a tractor and loaded up a trailer with valuable cereal.

The theft took place on October 8 last year, during his first week on the job, and left his employers and the authorities in disbelief.

The Cereal Heist

Wyatt’s plan unfolded when he drove the tractor to a nearby depot, MAXI Haulage, where he loaded up a trailer with £28,163 worth of Wheat Bisk cereal.

This product, a popular item from Harvest Morn, is commonly found on the shelves of Aldi stores.

After securing the haul, he drove nearly 30 miles to a storage facility in Failsworth, Manchester, where an accomplice was waiting to help unload the stolen goods.

In total, Wyatt took 792 containers, each filled with 22 boxes of cereal.

Once the load was unloaded, Wyatt returned the trailer and tractor to the depot.

It didn’t take long for his absence to be noticed, and when the missing shipment was discovered, the authorities quickly began to investigate.

Wyatt’s Attempt to Cover His Tracks

When confronted about the theft, Wyatt tried to claim that he had donated the stolen cereal to a foodbank.

He told his employer, Bramhall Transport’s manager, that he had taken the damaged stock to a foodbank in Oldham.

However, the foodbank confirmed that it was closed on Sundays and couldn’t accept large donations from trucks. Further inquiries revealed that no Wheat Bisk cereal had been received on October 8.

In a desperate attempt to cover his tracks, Wyatt visited the foodbank the following day and tried to obtain a donation receipt, but his story didn’t hold up.

The stolen goods were eventually found at the storage facility, where they had been hidden in six lockers.

A Troubled Past and Family Ties

Wyatt, who has a criminal record with three past convictions, including theft, pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without consent and theft.

His defense attorney, Olivia Beesley, argued that Wyatt had not committed any offenses in the last 20 years and showed signs of rehabilitation.

She highlighted his stable employment as an HGV driver, after losing his job due to the theft, and his responsibility as the main financial provider for his family.

His partner, a full-time carer for their 10-year-old child, and their three children, aged 8, 10, and 12, depend on his income, which played a role in the judge’s decision to suspend his sentence.

The Court’s Verdict

During sentencing, Judge David Potter acknowledged the planning and effort Wyatt put into the theft, including preparing storage containers and attempting to cover his tracks.

However, the judge also recognized the pressure on Wyatt’s family, which ultimately spared him from immediate imprisonment.

He was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for 18 months.

Additionally, Wyatt must complete 20 rehabilitation days, 100 hours of unpaid work, and pay £400 in court costs.

Judge Potter emphasized that while Wyatt’s family situation played a role in his sentence, he should reflect on the selfishness of his actions and the consequences it had for his family and his future.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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