Innocent locksmiths tricked by Leeds scammer who attempted to steal £100,000 worth of cars

Conniving Kyle Bucknall would spot a vehicle he wanted before contacting key experts and telling them he was locked out of his own vehicle. They would then turn up and either cut him a new key, or provide him with a fob, to allow him to drive it away.

Among those he either stole or attempted to steal included Vauxhall Astras, a VW Transporter, a Ford Focus, an Audi A3, a Seat Leon, a VW Scirocco, an Audi A1 and a BMW 435.

Leeds Crown Court heard that around half of those he picked he successfully stole between July and September of last year. In other cases the confused occupants returned to their vehicles before a locksmith had a chance to open them. All of those taken were eventually returned to their owners.

The 32-year-old was jailed for eight years today after admitting a string of offences.

Prosecutor Vincent Blake-Barnard said on June 22 last year, police tried to pull over a Seat Leon driven by Bucknall after suspecting it was on cloned plates. They chased him around Moortown as he reached speeds of 60mph in built-up areas. He narrowly avoided several head-on collisions, ran red lights and drove on grassy areas.

Then in July he was behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Astra in Armley that police suspected was stolen. Again they chased it until it collided with another vehicle on the A58. Bucknall’s DNA was found on the Astra’s airbag.

Finally, on April 19, police spotted two men in Leeds replacing the registration plates on a white Audi. Stingers were set by officers which burst the tyres of the fleeing car and it eventually came to a stop.

Passenger Bucknall and the driver, Calum Dixon, were apprehended after trying to flee. Bucknall was also seen to throw a bag from the car during the chase. It was located and was found to contain wraps of cocaine worth £320 and bags of cannabis worth £170. He also had £860 cash and a mobile phone which contained messages offering to supply drugs.

Dixon, aged 28, of Scott Hall Grove, Chapeltown, admitted handling stolen goods, dangerous driving and driving while already banned. Bucknall, of Saxon Green, Moortown, admitted two counts of dangerous driving, dealing in cocaine and cannabis and conspiracy to steal vehicles.

The court heard both have a long list of previous convictions and both were out on licence at the time of their latest offending.

Mitigating for Bucknall, David Hall said he a long-term relationship had come to an end and he was self medicating with alcohol and cocaine. He said that he had only been supplying friends with drugs.

Mitigating for Dixon, Erin Kitson-Parker said: “He is remorseful, fortunately the dangerous driving was a short incident. He has had a difficult life in and out of care. It’s not an excuse. He is trying to change.”

Judge Simon Batiste described them both as “career criminals”. He jailed Dixon for 27 months and banned him from driving for more than four years. As well as his lengthy jail sentence, Bucknall was given a nine-year driving ban.