More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Home Canterbury News Article
A cocky thug arrested after a night of crime smuggled a phone into his police cell and posted on Facebook: "See you all in a year or so!"
Remorseless Ross Dunn, 21, took a snap inside his cell at Canterbury station after breaching his bail following two burglaries and an attack on a pub landlady.
But he was not smiling as a judge made light of his prediction – jailing him instead for three-and-a-half years.
Dunn had managed to sneak the phone into his cell on September 21 last year, but police were later made aware of the security breach.
Spokesman Jane Walker said: "Officers and staff were reminded of the measures in place to ensure a thorough searching and checking procedure is followed."
Canterbury Crown Court heard how ex-care home worker Dunn wanted revenge after being kicked out of the George Inn in Chartham.
He was "high on a cocktail of drink and drugs" when he attacked landlady Sharon Austin and went on a burglary spree in December 2012.
Within a couple of hours he had broken into two houses in search of car keys, raided a residential home for people with special needs and driven a stolen car into other vehicles.
Twice he was spotted by householders in Shalmsford Street and fled, but was later found hiding nearby in the wardrobe of a girlfriend.
Judge Simon James was told how Dunn, who had been kicked out of his family home in Dover at the time, had gone to the pub in September but alarmed customers with his behaviour.
Mrs Austin refused to let him back inside the pub and was attacked by Dunn, who pushed her to the ground.
Judge James said: "After being ejected, you embarked on a spree of burglaries.
"It was your intention not only to steal items which are easily replaced, but also car keys. It is clear that you were targeting vehicles of significant value."
Two householders in Shalmsford Street confronted Dunn as he was stealing a van, but he was "so intoxicated and so intent on escaping" he collided with a number of other vehicles, causing extensive damage.
Judge James said: "It was only by good fortune that serious injury wasn't caused in your desperate attempt to escape.
"And it will come as no comfort for your victims to learn that you were off your head on a combination of drink and drugs."
Banned driver Dunn - who admitted the burglaries, assault, theft and aggravated vehicle taking - was given another two-year driving disqualification.
Kieran Brand, defending, said Dunn was "deeply ashamed" by his behaviour and described his actions that night as "pathetic".
