Jailed: Pair caught with tear gas and tools for stealing in Telford

Valdas Stikovas, 38, and Aivaris Tuomas, 36, had admitted having the gas as well as ‘going equipped for stealing’ after being caught on November 6 last year.

The pair were stopped by police in a car at Dawley Green Way at about 11.25pm and found to have the tools, including wire cutters, a torch and screwdrivers.

Stikovas was already being investigated by police for an earlier incident when he was also found to have CS gas and tools on him.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court on Friday he was handed a 17-month jail sentence for both occasions of going equipped and for breaching the Firearms Act, which bans the carrying of CS gas.

Meanwhile Tuomas received 16 months in total for going equipped and possessing gas.

The court heard that on July 28 last year a concerned resident of Hedingham Road in Leegomery called police when he saw a man “acting suspiciously”.

Dafydd Roberts, prosecuting, said: “He saw a person riding around on his pedal bike, going up and down drives on the roadway.

“Police attended very quickly with police dog Yoji.

“Yoji tracked the scent and found the defendant, Valdas Stikovas, nearby.

“Notwithstanding the hot weather we were enjoying in July last year he was wearing several layers of clothing, his face was covered and he was wearing gloves.

“He also had a rucksack on his person.”

Police searched Stikovas and found a canister of CS gas in his trouser pocket, as well as tools and more gloves.

His gas was confiscated and he was interviewed, claiming he had found the canister and denying the tools were to be used for theft.

Stikovas was released under investigation, but on November 6 was stopped by police again alongside Tuomas.

Officers searched both men and again found equipment for stealing, as well as another tear gas container on Tuomas’s person.

He claimed he carried it for protection after having been stabbed.

Convictions

Both men were convicted at Kidderminster Magistrates Court, and the matter was committed to Shrewsbury for sentence.

The court heard that Stikovas had a clean criminal record but that Tuomas had four convictions in Germany, including for theft and handling stolen goods.

Kevin Jones, representing Tuomas, said that he had only recently come to the UK for work, and that he was still the main breadwinner for his young family in his native Lithuania.

Rob Edwards, for Stikovas, said his English was poor and he didn’t know the gas was illegal when he bought it from a market stall in Wolverhampton.

Mr Edwards said: “His intention was not to use the CS gas in connection with the committal of any offences but to defend his family.

“He has made a life in the UK. He considers the UK to be his home.

“It is his daughter’s home and she has recently begun schooling here.”

In sentencing the two, Judge Anthony Lowe said that breaching the Firearms Act was a serious crime.

He said: “It carries with it a maximum sentence of 10 years which gives an indication of how serious such offences are.

“Both of you have demonstrated a determination to engage in criminal activity for financial gain.

“I accept there is no evidence that they have been used but it is quite clear to me that the intention was to use the gas canisters in the event that you were disturbed by a member of the public in order to effect a getaway.”

An interpreter helped both defendants during their sentencing.

The men, both of Maurice Lee Avenue in Oakengates, will also have to pay a victim surcharge.