Holidaymaker stole boat engine from Shell Island worker

A holidaymaker stole a boat engine from a worker at the Shell Island resort in Gwynedd. Raymond Deignan, who was a British Gas engineer at the time, swiped the Yamaha engine in Llanbedr.

But the 39-year-old denied the offence and was only convicted after a trial. A judge at Caernarfon Crown Court today decided that the defendant, who has a new job and family responsibilities, could be spared jail.

Deignan, of Barcicroft Road, Manchester, was given a six-month jail term for theft, suspended for 12 months. Prosecutor Alexa Carrier told the court Deignan stole the outboard boat engine from a dinghy, known as a rigid inflatable boat, on August 30, 2021.

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It was a Yamaha, 25 horsepower, two-stroke, twin-cylinder, short-shaft boat engine worth £750, belonging to Adam Jenkins.

She said Mr Jenkins was informed by another member of staff that his boat engine was missing. Mr Jenkins remembered that it had been there the day before.

Ms Carrier said the defendant had booked to stay at the Shell Island campsite on August 27 until August 31 that year. The court heard that eight months later in April 2022 Mr Jenkins was told there was an advert for his engine on Facebook.

Police traced and arrested Deignan on May 14, 2022. He gave no comment answers in an interview.

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Richard Edwards, defending, said it was a very old matter. His client had worked for British Gas for 24 years and lost his job after the prosecution began.

He wasn't coping with the legal proceedings and turned to alcohol. But he is a hard worker and had helped colleagues as a teaching assessor for British Gas.

He now has another job with a house building firm on the heating and maintenance side. He is a father-of-two with an ex-partner who is a trainee nurse.

The judge Mr Recorder Wyn Lloyd Jones noted Deignan has a criminal record and is not a man of good character. He has shown no remorse for the theft.

But references show people think a great deal of him and he could spare him an immediate custodial sentence as it would be "extremely hard" on his children and ex-partner if he were sent to prison straight away.

He ordered the defendant to do 150 hours of unpaid work, to pay £750 compensation to Mr Jenkins and £2,850 towards court costs after his denial led to a trial.

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