Threat to steal vehicle comes with offer to take victim along

PENTICTON – A Penticton man will serve a suspended sentence after pleading guilty following a bizarre attempt at vehicle theft.

Aaron Robert Vaughan-Evans entered a guilty plea in his own defence in Penticton court this morning, Aug. 22 for his attempt to steal a vehicle from a customer at the Co-op gas bar in Penticton on Jan. 9.

Crown Prosecutor John Swanson said Vaughan-Evans was at the Co-op gas bar when a woman driver stopped in for fuel. As she was getting gas, Vaughan-Evans approached her, telling her he was taking her car, adding she could ride in the passenger seat if she wished.

The woman pushed Vaughan-Evans aside and drove away, calling police shortly afterwards.

Video surveillance cameras recorded the incident and police were able to identify Vaughan-Evans and arrest him a short time later on another matter.

Crown sought a suspended sentence and one year’s probation.

“What was that all about?” Judge Gale Sinclair asked of Vaughan-Evans, who answered he couldn’t explain it.

“I wasn’t right in my situation. I feel like I wasn’t myself, almost,” the 31-year-old said, adding he was experiencing health issues at the time.

Judge Sinclair agreed to Crown’s terms, sentencing Vaughan-Evans to a suspended sentence and one year’s probation.

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