Lincolnshire car thief who made £194k told to repay £970

A thief who made almost £200,000 by stealing high-value cars from driveways in Lincolnshire can pay back just £970, a court has heard.

Ethan Taylor, 23, was jailed for seven years and eight months in July after he admitted 23 offences of burglary, attempted burglary and theft.

Taylor, of Aylestone Lane, Wigston, Leicestershire, was part of a gang that used a blowtorch to cut locks at homes before breaking in and taking car keys.

A proceeds of crime hearing at Lincoln Crown Court heard Taylor made a benefit of £194,000 from his crimes, but had available assets of just £970.74.

Recorder Adrian Jack gave Taylor three months to pay the outstanding sum or face a further six months imprisonment if the money is not paid back.

The burglaries were reported between January and September 2025, in locations including Deeping St James, Barrowby, Stamford, Grantham and Sleaford.

At his sentencing in July, Taylor also admitted four offences of going equipped, handling stolen goods, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified, which related to a high-speed police chase in May 2025.