A MAN who drove away with three cars and stole money to buy another was sentenced to a total of 16 years and six months in jail on Thursday.

Derrick Lewis, 42, of La Romaine, said he found the keys in the ignition of the stolen cars, each time he decided to swipe the cars.

Police prosecutor Joey Samaroo told the court that on separate dates between July to October the cars were taken.

On July 13, a 63-year-old woman was delivering flowers in Vistabella when Lewis offered to help her. When the she went into a house, Lewis drove away with her $65,000 car. The car was later found on a dead-end street in Vistabella.

Two weeks later, a woman left her car idling and stepped out to open the gate to her Rigsby Street, San Fernando, home. Lewis entered the vehicle valued at $40,000 and drove away. It was found the following day at Navet Road, San Fernando.

Two months later Lewis was at Union Hall, San Fernando, when he passed a car with the engine running. The owner was removing groceries from her car and was in her house at the time. Lewis took the $75,000 car which was also later recovered.

On October 13 a businesswoman parked her vehicle in La Romaine and went to purchase a soft drink at a nearby café. Her handbag was in the vehicle. Lewis took TT$45,500 and US$1,300 from the bag. He said he used the money to buy a Nissan B-14 Sentra.

Lewis was arrested and taken to the San Fernando Police Station on November 2. He confessed to each charge of larceny.

Before Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington on Thursday, Lewis said he was a taxi-driver without a car and he stole to feed his four children.

Lewis was convicted of car-stealing two years ago and served a three-month term, the court heard.

Wellington told Lewis. ’Two years ago, you went to jail for car stealing and learnt nothing. I should give you the maximum (ten year) sentence.’

Lewis begged that he be given a fine or the least possible time in prison. Wellington sentenced him to five years on each of the vehicle larceny charges and 18 months for stealing the money. The sentences are to run concurrently.

He will spend five years in jail.