Man stole crane from the moorlands

A man viewed a crane at a North Staffordshire business - before taking the keys and driving off without paying. Martin Lawrence and a friend had gone to inspect the crane at Truck & Marine Cranes, in Cheadle.But the 57-year-old took the keys from an unlocked cabinet and drove off. He has 16 previous convictions for 34 offences.Truck & Marine Cranes has been under the same ownership for 26 years.Lawrence was handed a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £1,200 compensation when he appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.