Car thief who made £194k can only repay £970

A thief who made almost £200,000 by stealing high-value cars from driveways in Lincolnshire can pay back just £970, a court has heard.

Ethan Taylor, 23, was jailed for seven years and eight months in July after he admitted 23 offences of burglary, attempted burglary and theft.

Taylor, of Aylestone Lane, Wigston, Leicestershire, was part of a gang that used a blowtorch to cut locks at homes before breaking in and taking car keys.

A proceeds of crime hearing at Lincoln Crown Court heard Taylor made a benefit of £194,000 from his crimes, but had available assets of just £970.74.

Recorder Adrian Jack gave Taylor three months to pay the outstanding sum or face a further six months imprisonment if the money is not paid back.

The burglaries were reported between January and September 2025, in locations including Deeping St James, Barrowby, Stamford, Grantham and Sleaford.

At his sentencing in July, Taylor also admitted four offences of going equipped, handling stolen goods, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified, which related to a high-speed police chase in May 2025.

'Throw away the key'

The court heard a number of the vehicles, which included Mercedes, Audis and a BMW worth more than £100,000, were never recovered.

One victim described how she barricaded her doors after the burglary at her home and felt terrified the intruders would return.

During his sentence hearing, Recorder Simon King told Taylor: "I could throw away the key and many would say I should.

"If I were to sentence you for each of these burglaries it would be an enormous sentence.

"You plainly broke into homes while they were sleeping. You took their cars."

His defence barrister, Tom Heath, admitted Taylor was undoubtedly motivated by financial gain as he was homeless at the time of the offences.

"He found himself out of work and lacked a routine.

"He found out about the techniques the court has heard about from more hardened criminals."

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