WIDNES, CHESHIRE — Two men have been jailed for their roles in a car and key burglary in Widnes after DNA evidence left inside a stolen vehicle linked them directly to the crime.
Joshua Clark, 20, of Haig Road, Widnes, and Robert Lee, 20, of Town Road, Birkenhead, were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday 20 October.
Clark was handed a 15-month custodial sentence after pleading guilty to theft of a motor vehicle and burglary of a dwelling. Lee received a 22-month custodial sentence after pleading guilty to theft of a motor vehicle. Both will serve their sentences in a youth offender institution.
The case began on 14 June 2023, when the victim was contacted by Merseyside Police after officers discovered an abandoned Ford Focus registered to his Widnes address. The vehicle was believed to have been stolen and had been involved in a police pursuit earlier that evening.
The owner later confirmed that not only the Ford Focus and its keys were missing, but also a red Mercedes Coupe and a Tag Heuer watch worth approximately £1,200 had been stolen from the property.
The Mercedes was located a few hours later on Wavertree Avenue in Widnes and recovered by Cheshire Police, who took over the investigation.
Officers were informed that a vape and a cap had been left inside the abandoned Focus. DNA testing revealed the vape matched Joshua Clark, while the cap contained Robert Lee’s DNA. CCTV enquiries also showed two men approaching the victim’s property before leaving in the stolen vehicle.
On 23 August 2023, Merseyside Police stopped a black Ford Focus with Lee in the passenger seat. He was arrested and transferred to Cheshire Police. Clark was arrested on 5 October 2023 at an address on Haig Road, Widnes.
During police interviews, both men answered “no comment” to all questions. Clark claimed he had been in bed at the time of the offence, but the evidence contradicted his account. Both later pleaded guilty before trial.
Detective Constable Kyla Lloyd of Widnes CID said:
“Their mistake of leaving personal items behind when abandoning the stolen vehicle proved to be their undoing.
Nobody has the right to break into someone’s home and steal their belongings, causing distress and fear. I’m pleased the strong evidence meant they had no option but to plead guilty, securing justice for the victim.”
She also praised collaboration with Merseyside Police, highlighting how joint working helped ensure the offenders were brought before the courts.
