‘Professional criminal’ caught towing stolen caravan

by Damien Sharkov
A man has been jailed, after Oxford court heard he had 38 convictions for 83 offences, including 15 for theft.
Patrick McFarlane was arrested while still driving a stolen Fiat Ducato, with a stolen caravan in tow.
McFarlane had avoided detection for almost a year, after replacing the number plates and tax disk on the van and caravan.
Recorder Rhona Campbell, who sentenced Patrick to two years in prison, admitted his crimes bore “professional elements”.
McFarlane had been prosecuted as of 6 August last year, for failing to return a Volkswagen Crafter van to a Didcot hire firm.
He was detained by officers while pulling up to Redbridge Hollow travellers’ site, near Hinksey Hill, at 3am on 11 January.
Victoria Kerly, who defended the 51-year-old former drug addict at his hearing admitted he had gotten clean and received training as a plumber, but had fallen into debt after being stabbed.