Milnrow man avoids jail after charity van theft

A 24-year old father of one from Milnrow has avoided a jail term after he stole a charity shop's van.

Daniel Fearnley, of St James Street, stole the van when it was parked up outside a Dr Kershaw's Hospice shop in Shaw on 16 December last year.

Between September and October he also stole four vehicles from homes in West Yorkshire.

He was given a 20-week jail sentence, which has been suspended for 18 months, so if he does not re-offend in that time he will not go to prison. Fearnley pleaded guilty to the theft of the van and 17 other offences at Rochdale Magistrates' Court last week.

He has been banned from driving for five years, given an 18-month addressing substance-related offending order and ordered to pay £300 compensation.