Friday, June 16, 2017

Pictured in her mugshot, the talented horse rider and aspiring model, 18, who was jailed for two years after turning getaway driver for £700,000 car theft gang

Mugshot released of model, 18, who was getaway driver

Police have released the custody mugshot of a talented horse rider and aspiring model who was jailed for two years after being a getaway driver for a £700,000 car theft gang.
Kirstie Covele, 18, was behind the wheel during 13 of 33 burglaries which were carried out in just two months last summer. 
The group managed to steal a range of vehicles including a number of Mercedes, BMWs and Audis which amounted to £696,500.
They often wore 'skeleton' or ski masks when they raided the homes across Kent and south east London armed with screwdrivers.
  
Kirstie Covele, 18, (pictured left and right) is a talented horserider and was hoping to compete at the next Olympics. Police have now released her mugshot

The teenager (pictured) was a keen horserider and wanted to compete at the next Olympic Games 
The teenager (pictured) was a keen horserider and wanted to compete at the next Olympic Games 
Miss Covele, a talented horserider, later triggered automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras as she travelled in convoy with the stolen vehicles. 
She told police after her arrest that although she drove her co-defendants around, she did not know of their criminal activity, and was simply paid petrol money. 
Maidstone Crown Court in Kent heard that the gang of eight - mostly teenagers and some aged just 15 at the time - targeted the homes while the occupiers were asleep.
After stealing car keys, the gang would then make off with the vehicles to be either sold on with false plates, stripped of parts or burnt out.
Police later found video footage of one of the vehicles on fire in a field - a Mercedes worth £40,000 and stolen from Petts Wood in Kent - on the phone of one of the thieves. 

Father-of-three Thomas Ripley, 21, was described as the 'controlling mind' of the organised enterprise and involved in 21 break-ins and thefts. He was jailed for five years
Freddie Friend
Harry Turner
Freddie Friend, 17, of Orpington (left), 16-year-old Harry Turner (right), of Northfleet, admitted conspiracy to burgle
Jack Hever was sentenced to three years' youth custody
Charlie Parker, 16, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal

Jack Hever, 20, (left) was sentenced to three years' youth custody. Charlie Parker, 16, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal
The court heard they were paid £1,500 to be shared between them for each car stolen between June 12 and August 14 last year. 
Several break-ins would be committed in one night, with some residents having two cars stolen off their driveways. 
The gang even had the audacity to target one road on two consecutive nights. 
Former agricultural college student Covele, of Orpington, looked stunned as she was sentenced to two years in a young offenders' institution on Monday after admitting conspiracy to steal.  
Father-of-three Thomas Ripley, 21, was described as the 'controlling mind' of the organised enterprise and involved in 21 break-ins and thefts. He was jailed for five years.
Ripley, of St Mary Cray, Kent, together with Jack Hever, 20, and Freddie Friend, 17, of Orpington and 16-year-old Harry Turner, of Northfleet, admitted conspiracy to burgle.  

Apprentice engineer Hever was sentenced to three years' youth custody, Friend was given a two-year detention and training order, and Turner was sentenced to an 18-month detention and training order.
Shannon Kelynack, 19, of Orpington, Charlie Parker, 16, of Orpington, and a 16-year-old girl who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal.
Kelynack was given two years' youth custody and Parker was sentenced to a 12-month detention and training order.
The teenage girl was not at court today as she was sitting a GCSE exam. She will be sentenced tomorrow.
Covele (pictured) was caught by police when her car triggered automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras as she travelled in convoy with the stolen vehicles
Covele (pictured) was caught by police when her car triggered automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras as she travelled in convoy with the stolen vehicles
The court heard the burglaries were carried out in Bexley, Bexleyheath, Petts Wood, Orpington, Swanley, West Kingsdown, Otford, Dartford, Hartley, Strood, Higham and Larkfield. 
Sentencing the seven gang members, Judge Adele Williams said the burglaries 'bore the hallmarks' of professional crime.
She said: 'Tools were used to gain access and many of the householders were asleep in their homes. 
'I have read victim personal statements and they make plain not surprisingly how badly affected they have been by these crimes, with feelings of violation of their homes as well as the financial loss and inconvenience they have suffered.
'The houses were targeted for their high-value cars. They were disposed of either in their entirety or for their parts. 
Miss Covele (pictured) told police after her arrest that although she drove her co-defendants around
Miss Covele (pictured) told police after her arrest that although she drove her co-defendants around
'I have no doubt there were those higher up the chain who were older and more sophisticated criminals than you, but each of you played your part in this criminality.' 
Shannon Revel, prosecuting, said the eight defendants were identified through mobile phone data and ANPR cameras.
She said: 'A total of 33 burglaries were committed over a two-month period and had the same key elements. 
'In groups of two or more, they broke into residential properties and in the majority the residents were at home in the early hours of the morning. 
'They stole cars ranging from Vauxhall Astras to Mercedes and BMWs, driving them away. 
'They then saw one of two fates - number plates were changed and attempts to scratch off the identification numbers were made, and then sold on. 
'A small number were destroyed - smashed up and set alight. Tools were used to enter the properties. Some of the defendants wore masks and gloves.' 
Covele was described as a hugely ambitious young woman who aimed to compete at the next Olympics.
Sam Thomas, defending, said she became involved with the gang at a time of 'trauma, distress and stress' as her father was dying from motor neurone disease. 
Former agricultural college student Covele (pictured), of Orpington, looked stunned as she was sentenced to two years on Monday
Former agricultural college student Covele (pictured), of Orpington, looked stunned as she was sentenced to two years on Monday
Maidstone Crown Court in Kent (pictured) heard that the gang of eight - mostly teenagers - targeted the homes while the occupiers were asleep
Maidstone Crown Court in Kent (pictured) heard that the gang of eight - mostly teenagers - targeted the homes while the occupiers were asleep
She currently works on a voluntary basis at a livery based in Orpington. 
Kelynack was driving a Fiat Punto with Ripley, Hever and two of the 16-year-olds as passengers.
The Mercedes keys were found under a seat, as well as a large screwdriver, ski mask and gloves. 
Kelynack - like Covele - acted as a driver in 13 of the burglaries. Her barrister, Daniel Darnborough, said it was a reflection of her naivety and lack of criminal sophistication that she had used her own car.  
A court order banning the naming of those under 18 was lifted by Judge Williams, except in the case of the 16-year-old girl.
She said there was a 'strong interest' in the public knowing about the crimes, including the identities of those involved. 


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