The burglar who stole comedian Bill Bailey’s tour bus is also under investigation for an alleged theft from Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson.
Francis John Whittaker, 35, was jailed for two years at Liverpool Crown Court today after stealing a Mercedes Sprinter van from outside Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall where Mr Bailey was due to perform as part of his Limboland tour on October 26.
However drug addict Whittaker, of The Lynxway in West Derby , is also the subject of a probe by Merseyside Police into the alleged theft of Mr Tomlinson’s black Vauxhall Antata last September.
A police spokesperson said: “A 35 year-old man remains on police bail pending further enquiries into the theft of a motor vehicle from Duke Street, Liverpool city centre , on Friday 25 September 2015.”
Mr Tomlinson, best known for playing wise-cracking slob Jim Royle on the award-winning BBC series, says the vehicle contained photographs of his son Clifton, who died in 2004 aged 33.
The car was taken after keys were stolen from inside Mr Tomlinson’s bar the Green Room before making off.
Whittaker has not been charged in relation to the incident.
Speaking at the time of the theft Mr Tomlinson said: “The car was full of stuff because I was moving things out of my cottage. Most importantly there was a photo of my son. It’s one of only a few photos of him I’ve got .
“The car was absolutely full of bits and pieces and a lot of the things had sentimental value. It also contained my driving licence and house keys, so we’ve had to change all the locks.”
The actor watched today’s court hearing from the public gallery and was engaged in a brief exchange of expletives with Whittaker as he was taken down to begin his prison sentence.
Francis John Whittaker, 35, jailed for two years
Andrew Sinker, prosecuting told the court Whittaker had snatched car keys and a iMac laptop worth £1,400 from the Philharmonic after getting into the building through an insecure fire door.
The van, which had been hired from a company called Tiger Tours, contained Bill Bailey merchandise worth around £2,000.
It was recovered in Tuebrook the following month, where it was found abandoned and fitted with false number plates after a collision with a Renault Clio.
When the vehicle was recovered Mr Bailey posted on Twitter: “Tour bus found! Huge thanks to@MerseyPolice @LivEchonews UK press & good people of Liverpool. See you back @liverpoolphil next May.”
Whittaker, who had pleaded guilty to burglary and two counts of vehicle theft, was also sentenced for stealing a Vauxhall Vivaro van from Gerard McKeever, who had been working at the Hilton hotel in Thomas Steers Way on August 17 last year.
Judge Elizabeth Nicholls, sentencing, said: “The facts of these offences are all too familiar. It’s easy to forget the inconvenience, pain and chaos that was inflicted on those who are the victims of such crime.”
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/