Key Facts
- •Barney Joyce (born 17 August 2002) and Jordan Joyce (born 18 February 2000) were convicted of conspiracy to steal from motor vehicles.
- •Barney Joyce was also convicted of dangerous driving.
- •The offences involved the theft of catalytic converters and tools from multiple vehicles in Hemel Hempstead.
- •A high-speed police chase ensued, resulting in the arrests of the Joyces and a co-defendant.
- •Both appellants pleaded guilty and received discounts for their pleas (25% for Jordan, 20% for Barney).
- •The judge sentenced Barney Joyce to 35 months' detention (29 months for conspiracy, 6 months consecutive for dangerous driving) and Jordan Joyce to 27 months' imprisonment.
- •The sentencing was conducted without pre-sentence reports due to probation service limitations.
Legal Principles
Sentencing guidelines for theft, specifically categorisation of offences under the offence-specific guideline.
Offence-specific guideline for theft
Considerations for mitigation in sentencing, including age and previous convictions.
Case law and sentencing principles
Rules regarding disqualification from driving following a dangerous driving conviction.
R v Needham [2016] EWCA Crim 455; Sections 35A and 35B of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988
Outcomes
Barney Joyce's and Jordan Joyce's appeals against sentence were dismissed, except for a variation in the wording of Barney Joyce's driving disqualification.
The court upheld the judge's categorisation of the offences as Category 2 due to the significant additional harm caused to the victims. The sentences were deemed not manifestly excessive given the circumstances, including the planning, execution, and escape attempts involved. The court adjusted the phrasing of Barney Joyce's driving disqualification to comply with R v Needham.