An expectant dad met up with a woman from a dating website for a drink at a pub – and stole her car.
Former bricklayer Michael Vassello went on a “spree of offending” which also saw him burgle his own sister’s house and write off his flatmate’s car, a court heard.
The 24-year-old’s crime spree was fuelled by drink and drugs after separating from his girlfriend who was pregnant with their first child, a judge was told.
During a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court he shouted at the judge: “You’ll sentence in my absence, yeah?”
Vassello, who does not have a permanent address, then stormed out of the dock.
Prosecutor David Pugh said Vassello’s “spree” started in July last year when he took his flatmate’s car from Gloucester Street in Cardiff after finding the keys in a communal area.
The court heard his housemate noticed his car – worth around £6,000 – had moved before discovering “extensive damage” and realising the vehicle had been written off.
A month later he burgled his sister’s house in Beddau while she was on holiday in Devon with her husband and children.
Prosecutors said he broke in through the kitchen window and took two televisions, jewellery, a laptop, camera and £250 in cash.
He also took her £5,000 car, which was later found with stolen number plates.
'Vulnerable and intimidated'
The court heard that in October 2015 Vassello had travelled to Taunton to meet up with a woman he had met on a dating website.
Mr Pugh said the woman left her bag inside the pub while she went for a cigarette.
She got a lift home with a friend and when she returned to collect her car the next morning realised it had gone.
The defendant admitted theft as well as driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.
A month later he was involved in another burglary along with 24-year-old Jamie Williams of Ninian Park Road in Cardiff.
The court heard the pair entered the property in Bridgend by forcing open the back door before taking a television, laptops, and jewellery including an engagement ring.
In a victim impact statement homeowners Matthew and Francine Fogden said they had been burgled two years previously.
Mrs Fogden said: “I feel vulnerable and intimidated and like I never want to sleep in my house again.
“The first burglary was the final straw in a mental breakdown.
“It took such a long time to get over it and part of that was reassuring ourselves it would not happen again.”
She added: “I have many happy memories of living in the house but I feel like they have been tainted.
“We have put the house on the market because I no longer want to live there.”
Her husband said: “It has taken me a long time to feel comfortable and now I have those same feelings of distress.”
Vassello admitted a string of offences including burglary, taking a car without consent, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance.
He also asked for 12 other offences to be taken into consideration including garage and shed burglaries.
'Arrest me before I murder my girlfriend'
Williams pleaded guilty to burglary and theft of car number plates.
Defence barrister Adam Sharp said: “I do not expect the court to have any particular sympathy for Mr Vassello.”
He said his client had left the dock due to “a sense of shame”.
He explained Vassello had become depressed after separating from his girlfriend who was pregnant with their first child.
Mr Sharp added: “He presents as a very lonely man.
“His family do not want to know him because he has abused the trust of the people who care about him.”
Prosecutors said he had appeared before the courts four times for 20 offences, including battery, and had previously served several sentences in a young offenders’ institution.
In 2014 he phoned the police to say: “Will you please come and arrest me before I murder my girlfriend?”
Rhodri Chudleigh, representing Williams, said his client was at a “low point” in his life and argued he was led by Vassello.
But the Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Eleri Rees, said: “There is something rather unattractive about trying to blame your behaviour on another defendant.”
Sentencing Williams she said: “At least you have the courage to stand there and hear your sentence unlike your co-defendant because he cannot face what he has done.”
She added: “It is quite clear that Michael Vassello embarked on a criminal spree of offending having little regard as to who his victims might be.”
Vassello was sentenced to a total of three years and 26 weeks in prison and disqualified from driving for three years.
Williams was jailed for 16 months.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/expectant-dad-met-up-woman-10731612
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