Man crushed to death by car while stealing catalytic converter

Would-be thief needed money for court case to get more access to his children, inquest heard

Man crushed to death by car while stealing catalytic converter
Image: Bigstock.

A man was crushed to death by a car while trying to steal its catalytic converter after the after the jack he had been using collapsed, an inquest has heard.

Daniel Stephens, 25, of Torfaen, was found beneath a vehicle in a car park on 12 August at about 6:00 am.

The car’s owner, Russel Seldon, told the inquest in Pontypridd he noticed Mr Stephens’ legs protruding from under his BMW and called the emergency services.

PC Leah Jeffries, who was at the scene, told the inquest Mr Stephens was “cold and stiff” and she could see his “chest was crushed”.

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It was when the car was raised that she noticed a car jack and torch alongside his body.

Mr Stephens’ friend Aron Godfrey, with whom he had been living in Ynysybwl weeks before he died, told the inquest Mr Stephens had been “down and stressed” because he needed money for a court case to try and get more access to his children.

While Mr Godfrey told his friend “not to do anything stupid”, Mr Stephens planned to steal a catalytic converter from a BMW in Cymmer because he knew he could sell it, he told the coroner.

At about 1:00 am, Mr Godfrey said he heard a car drive off, assuming it was his close friend leaving.

After waking at 5:00 am to see Mr Stephens had not returned, he said he drove to Cymmer and saw people standing around the car and emergency services arriving.

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“I knew it was Daniel,” he said.

Following a post-mortem examination, the cause of death was determined as “crush asphyxia”.

Low levels of the drug Tramadol and alcohol were also found in Daniel Stephens’ blood, with assistant coroner Rachel Knight reaching a conclusion of accidental death.

She expressed her condolences to Mr Stephens’ family and friends, adding: “It is evident he is greatly missed by many people.”

Home Page Forums Man crushed to death by car while stealing catalytic converter

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  • #216597 Reply

    A man has been crushed to death by a car while trying to steal its catalytic converter after the after the jack he had been using collapsed, an inques
    [See the full post at: Man crushed to death by car while stealing catalytic converter]

    #216604 Reply
    Meat-Head
    Guest

    I definitely posted in this thread this morning

    In short, makes you think did he use a nissan micra jack on a 2 ton bmw?

    Etc etc

    Meat-Head BPB BSC OHPEF CPA FET RSAL2x4

    #216842 Reply
    Christopher gibbs
    Guest

    Should have got a job and worked hard for his money, got no sympathy for his death, will go as far as to say it’s good to get another theft off the streets without the tax payer having to pay for it.

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