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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bungling Bedford burglars 'like the Marx Brothers' | Bungling Bedford burglars 'like the Marx Brothers' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Marx Brothers (Groucho, Chico and Harpo pictured left to right) were a legendary US comedy troupe who appeared in Vaudeville theatre before making movies | |
| Bungling burglars who unwittingly filmed themselves in a stolen getaway car were likened in court to the farcical Marx Brothers. | Bungling burglars who unwittingly filmed themselves in a stolen getaway car were likened in court to the farcical Marx Brothers. |
| An argument between James Lake, 43, and Peter Moran, 55, as they tried to find the handbrake was captured on a camera in a taxi they stole during a house burglary in Bedford in 2019. | An argument between James Lake, 43, and Peter Moran, 55, as they tried to find the handbrake was captured on a camera in a taxi they stole during a house burglary in Bedford in 2019. |
| Footage of them arguing was left in the abandoned car. | Footage of them arguing was left in the abandoned car. |
| Lake was jailed for 40 months and Moran given a suspended sentence. | Lake was jailed for 40 months and Moran given a suspended sentence. |
| Lake, Moran, and a third man who failed to answer bail, broke into the house in Hurst Grove in the early hours of 19 September, and made a getaway in the homeowner's taxi. | Lake, Moran, and a third man who failed to answer bail, broke into the house in Hurst Grove in the early hours of 19 September, and made a getaway in the homeowner's taxi. |
| 'You're the car thief, mate' | 'You're the car thief, mate' |
| Dashcam footage showed Lake and Moran having a protracted argument when neither could find the handbrake. | Dashcam footage showed Lake and Moran having a protracted argument when neither could find the handbrake. |
| In an expletive-filled exchange, Lake repeatedly shouted "where's the... handbrake?" to which Moran eventually replied: "I don't... know. You're the car thief, mate." | In an expletive-filled exchange, Lake repeatedly shouted "where's the... handbrake?" to which Moran eventually replied: "I don't... know. You're the car thief, mate." |
| Lake also reversed into another car on the driveway. | Lake also reversed into another car on the driveway. |
| The judge said Lake (pictured) and Moran were "both plainly under the influence of drink and drugs that night" | The judge said Lake (pictured) and Moran were "both plainly under the influence of drink and drugs that night" |
| During the journey the camera captured several arguments and a fight as Lake was hit in the mouth and accused Moran of trying to bite him. | During the journey the camera captured several arguments and a fight as Lake was hit in the mouth and accused Moran of trying to bite him. |
| The car was abandoned in St Johns Street, Bedford. | The car was abandoned in St Johns Street, Bedford. |
| Marx Brothers' enduring appeal | Marx Brothers' enduring appeal |
| Marx Brothers actress Kitty Carlisle Hart dies | Marx Brothers actress Kitty Carlisle Hart dies |
| Cleese 'unexcited' by new TV comedy | Cleese 'unexcited' by new TV comedy |
| Lake, of Crescent Road, Luton, admitted burglary. | Lake, of Crescent Road, Luton, admitted burglary. |
| Moran, of Elgar Path, Luton, was found guilty of burglary following a trial in November, during which prosecutor Daniel Wright told the the jury the footage they had seen of them trying to get the car started was like a scene from a Marx Brothers film. | Moran, of Elgar Path, Luton, was found guilty of burglary following a trial in November, during which prosecutor Daniel Wright told the the jury the footage they had seen of them trying to get the car started was like a scene from a Marx Brothers film. |
| Luton Crown Court heard that the pair had long histories of drug abuse which had lead to their offending over the years. | Luton Crown Court heard that the pair had long histories of drug abuse which had lead to their offending over the years. |
| Judge Gary Lucie told them: "I found it quite sickening to watch the pair of you gloating about what you were up to." | Judge Gary Lucie told them: "I found it quite sickening to watch the pair of you gloating about what you were up to." |
| Ahead of being jailed, Lake asked for 69 other burglaries between 1995 and 2017 to be taken into consideration. Moran was handed a two-year sentence, suspended for 18 months. | Ahead of being jailed, Lake asked for 69 other burglaries between 1995 and 2017 to be taken into consideration. Moran was handed a two-year sentence, suspended for 18 months. |
| Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk |