Car thief admits garage killing

Henry Raybould died from shock and internal bleeding

A car thief has admitted killing a 75-year-old businessman who was run over as he tried to stop a car being stolen from his garage forecourt.

Stuart Ferguson knocked down Henry Raybould as he tried to bring to a halt the Volkswagen Bora he and his son had been working on at their family-run firm in Gornal Wood, near Dudley, West Midlands.

Ferguson, 24, of Talbot Place, Wolverhampton, appeared at the city's crown court on Monday, where he admitted manslaughter, but denied murdering Mr Raybould on 10 July this year.

Roger Smith QC, prosecuting, said a decision had yet to be made whether Ferguson should stand trial for murder.

Son injured

A 16-year-old youth from Tipton, West Midlands, who was a passenger in the Bora at the time of the Mr Raybould's death, was given a six-month detention and training order.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted aggravated vehicle taking and assaulting Mr Raybould's son, Paul, who was injured in the incident.

Ferguson, who was remanded in custody, pleaded not guilty pleas to charges of aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving relating to the events of 10 July.

He admitted three counts of car theft, a further accusation of dangerous driving and another of aggravated vehicle taking between April 2002 and July this year.

The court heard that on the day of Mr Raybould's death Ferguson and the teenager were passing the garage in a stolen Vauxhall Cavalier.