Mother sobs as serial offender, 20 from Padworth, is sentenced

Aiden Howe, of Ashdown Court, Padworth, showed no emotion as Judge Stephen John sentenced him to nine months at Reading Crown Court on Friday, April 11, but his mother sobbed and his stepfather shouted: “love you, son” as he was led away.

Police found the speakers in a bedroom in his house on April 29 last year – three days after they were stolen from a narrowboat in Padworth.

Officers stumbled upon them while searching Howe’s home in connection with another offence and he claimed to have bought the speakers – worth a few hundred pounds – for £40.

He pleaded not guilty to handling stolen goods, but was convicted following a two-day trial in December.

Judge John said: “You are still only 20 and 19 at the time but you have been before the court on 16 occasions for 30 offences.

“The speakers were bought in a short space of time after they had been stolen. You committed this offence while on bail for an offence of residential burglary.”

Prosecuting, Oscar del Fabbro said Howe had been charged with a number of similar offences since 2007, including shoplifting, arson, theft and burglary.

Defending, Trudie Yeatman admitted Howe had a “shocking” criminal record and said he had been in custody since July. She told the court: “He doesn’t come before the court with a clean sheet.

“I have dealt with Mr Howe on a number of occasions but meeting him today, not only does he look different, he has been attending the gym regularly whilst on remand.

“He has completed drug awareness courses, been appointed as a wing cleaner and been learning brick-laying and mechanics.

“He’s been doing a lot of growing up since last year. In his own words, he has had a lot of time to think, a lot of time of regret and a lot of time to consider how he will behave in future.

“He seems to have matured significantly in the last eight months.”

But Judge John replied: “He lied through his teeth about this.”