A MAN who was found guilty of stealing a £15,000 car when he failed to attend court to defend himself has had his sentencing postponed.
Joshua Murphy had pleaded not guilty to stealing the Mitsubishi Shotgun from Moneybarn PLC on August 1 2012 when he appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on July 24 last year, but confusion with legal aid led him to believe his trial would not take place on May 1 so he did not attend.
He was mistaken and found guilty in his absence. The case was adjourned until Thursday, May 21, for sentencing.
However, sentencing still didn't take place as the 28-year-old still had no legal representative which the court felt was vital for the seriousness of the offence.
The sentencing was adjourned for pre-sentence reports and so Murphy, of Lower Heath, Stourport, to instruct solicitor Gary Harper to act on his behalf when he appears at the court again on June 11.
He was granted unconditional bail to attend court on that date.
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