Lovelorn South Tyneside Airbnb guest stole owner's car in a bizarre cry for help, magistrates told

A man staying at a rental Airbnb in South Tyneside and on a low after a love split pinched the owner’s car so he would be jailed in a bizarre cry for help, a court heard.

Owen Dunn, 23, hoped his arrest and imprisonment would lead him to the professional help he believed he needed to sort out drugs and other strife in his life.

Dunn, now of West Avenue, Harraton, in Washington, stole the black Mini Cooper after its owner left the keys inside her abode on Monday, February 23.

But he had no intention to permanently deprive her of the vehicle, as he left the keys with it when he abandoned it and had caused no damage.

His solicitor also revealed he no longer needed the support he believed he once did, largely due to quitting crack cocaine and stopping pill popping.

Prosecutor Jeff Smith told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court: “The defendant had been staying in an Airbnb, owned by the injured party.

“She had left the keys to her car around the premises which were being used by Mr Dunn and members of the public.

“She discovered that her vehicle had been taken. It was later discovered with the keys. It has a sentencing range of up to 12 months in custody.”

Annie Dixon, defending Dunn, who pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of a motor vehicle, said: “He left the keys nearby so that they could be returned to the owner.

“The reason was a cry for help by Mr Dunn, with issues and difficulties he was having. He took the view that the police could help him with his rehabilitation.

“This appears to have been something done on the spur of the moment by a person who was quite vulnerable.

“He was having a difficult time when he took this vehicle. He had a relationship breakdown and had been homeless for around three months.

“Because of the relationship breakdown, he got involved with using crack cocaine and staying between friends and using B&Bs.

“What he believed at the time was that if he committed an offence he may be sent to prison, and he could be helped with the situation he was in.

“He has now dealt with his issues in relation to drugs and has been working with Wearside Recovery for a few months now.

“He has stopped using crack cocaine and the tablets that he was abusing, and he has fixed his accommodation. He now feels he doesn’t need prison.”

District Judge Zoe Passfield revoked an existing community order Dunn was subject to for an unspecified offence and replaced it with a new one of 18 months.

It requires him to complete 25 rehabilitation days and a mental health treatment order.

She also banned him from driving for six months and ordered him to pay a £114 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

The judge told him: “I give you credit for your guilty plea, but this offence is more serious because at that time you were subject to a community order.

“Given what I’ve heard about that community order, it’s not going tremendously well.”