A ROBBER who stole thousands of pounds in cash and a Volvo has been jailed for more than five years.

Aaron Folan of Exeter Close was found guilty of a string of offences committed over a two-year period.

The court heard how the 40-year-old, along with an unknown person, robbed a man with a safe full of £17,500 in cash in October 2020.

Folan used “very considerable force” to obtain the cash before two vehicles were used as a getaway.

Just one year later, Folan broke into Hollybrook Car Centre with another man and stole a Volvo worth over £19k.

Folan was well acquainted with the site run by Dave Hurst as his stepfather was his business partner.

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The stolen vehicle was discovered by police in Wavell Road, Bitterne, in December 2021 and Folan was identified after forensic swabs were taken in the car.

In a victim impact statement read out in court by prosecutor Josh Happe, Mr Hurst said “the adverse impact (of Folan's crime) on my life has been huge”.

He added: “I have known Mr Folan for 30 years and to think someone I know could commit this crime has sickened me.

“I feel betrayed by him.”

Last year, Folan’s spate of thefts continued.

In October 2022 he stole two crates of beer from Tesco Express on West End Road, then in December, he entered John Lewis in Westquay and stole over £300 worth of LEGO sets off the shelves and “simply walked out”.

Mr Happe added: “He has a substantial record of this type of offending.”

But mitigating, Khalid Missourri said Folan has “lost everything”.

He said: “He is remorseful and ashamed.

“He was quite a talented man in his community but got caught up in a culture of trying Class A drugs. The defendant is a heavy, Class A drug addict.

“He is motivated to change in the right environment.”

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Recorder Barry McElduff told the court Folan has 21 convictions encompassing 50 offences before handing him his prison sentence.

He said: “You have, for many years, had a deep-seated problem with drugs. Before that, you were a hard-working man who held down jobs and raised a family.

“For the thefts, I order a 10-month imprisonment.

“I order a one-month imprisonment for the thefts at Tesco Express and John Lewis, and for your Bail Act Offence, 14 days imprisonment.

“And I order 51 months’ imprisonment for the robbery, to be consecutive to the sentences already imposed.

“That is a total of 61 months in prison.”

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