The Montpellier man who vandalized cars with a screwdriver betrayed by his DNA

Le Montpelliérain a été incarcéré à la maison d’arrêt. Midi Libre – RICHARD DE HULLESSEN

Cet homme de 50 ans, condamné à de nombreuses reprises pour vol, volait des objets pour les revendre afin de s’acheter des produits stupéfiants. Il a été condamné à une peine de prison ferme par le tribunal correctionnel.

Fernand, 50, is well known to the Montpellier court. Living with his parents in La Mosson and occasionally working in construction, he has in fact been convicted 15 times, including 11 for theft.

This drug addict has taken to paying for his drugs by reselling valuables stolen from vehicles, after breaking a window to get hold of them.

He recently appeared in court for three such charges. In 2020, a screwdriver bearing his DNA was found near a vandalized car in a CHU parking lot. Same scenario in 2022, where he stole hiking equipment and musical instruments from a school teacher.

Cocaine and crack

But on May 31, 2024, his journey came to an abrupt end. A local resident followed the thief and informed the police who arrested him shortly after.

The screwdriver he held in his hand earned him a charge of threatening with the use of a weapon, in addition to attempted theft and theft with damage.

"I had consumed cocaine on the day of the incident, said Fernand, who also admitted to being addicted on crack. But I've since stopped.

It’is ultimately a sentence of 15 months of imprisonment, 9 of which are accompanied by a probationary suspension – close to requisitions – which was pronounced. Above all, the court kept Fernand in detention.

He will have to treat himself and pay a total of 1 570 € to the two victims who had become civil parties.

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