A MAN who changed his name to Silver Shadow stole vehicles to order all around Fenland – but instead of stealing luxury Rolls Royce cars that matched his name, he stole Vauxhall Brava pick up trucks. But self-named Silver Shadow – formerly known as Martin

A MAN who changed his name to Silver Shadow stole vehicles to order all around Fenland - but instead of stealing luxury Rolls Royce cars that matched his name, he stole Vauxhall Brava pick up trucks.

But self-named Silver Shadow - formerly known as Martin Sinclair or Martin Lewis - was caught out when police laid a trap for him, planting a pick up in a lay-by at Primrose Hill in Doddington, and waited for him to steal it.

Within two days police were notified that the vehicle was on the move, and officers stopped it at Friday Bridge Road in Elm.

Thirty-eight-year-old Silver Shadow was being paid �250 each time he stole a vehicle, but refused to tell police who was issuing his orders.

Appearing at Wisbech courthouse on Tuesday, Silver Shadow, of Bath Road, Wisbech, admitted stealing a �1,500 Vauxhall Brava belonging to Cambridgeshire police on January 24, and driving the vehicle without a licence or insurance.

He asked for three more offences to be taken into consideration, the theft of similar vehicles in March and Yaxley, and interfering with a Brava pick up at Chatteris. The stolen vehicles were worth a total of �8,500.

"As a result of a number of thefts in the Fenland area, police decided to leave a Vauxhall Brava in a lay-by at Primrose Hill on January 22," said prosecutor Giles Beaumont.

"Two days later, about 6pm, a device in the vehicle indicated that the vehicle was on the move."

Inside the stolen car, police found an adjustable wrench and a pair of gloves. The car's lock and ignition were damaged.

Mitigating, David Chapple said his client had changed his name to Silver Shadow, although he used the name Martin Lewis on his benefit claim.

"He has been living rough at the site of the old ATS warehouse in Wisbech," he explained. "The offences were committed to get for a first month's rent, so he would have somewhere to stay."

His client has psychiatric or psychological problems, including paranoia, schizophrenia and depression.

The court committed Silver Shadow to Cambridge Crown Court for sentencing.