Digger thief caught on A40
David Sullivan, 22, stole the JCB digger from a building site near Gloucester railway station but did not get far before police pulled him over.
After being arrested, Sullivan, of Zinnia Close, Churchdown, told police he had been offered money to collect the digger and drive it away.
Sullivan admitted stealing the JCB on January 18 this year as well as driving it without insurance and without the correct licence.
Judge William Hart deferred sentence on him for six months at Gloucester Crown Court to see if he stayed out of trouble.
Julian Kesner, prosecuting, said it was the second time Sullivan had been involved in stealing "expensive machinery" from building sites. He had also once tried to steal cable from a work site.
He said there were two JCBs, each worth up to £65,000, on the site that night and the security guard had turned up late.
He said: "When he got there at 9.30pm he was immediately aware that one of the trucks had been stolen. It was seen by police officers being driven along the A40 that Sunday night at about 8.58pm. Given the time of day the police indicated it to stop."
Sullivan told officers he was taking it to the Forest of Dean to meet his boss, who was waiting for him. He said he had driven from a travellers' site at Staverton.
But police did not believe his story and arrested him.
Judge Hart said he would normally pass a 12-month jail term for the offence but had seen reports saying what good progress Sullivan had made since the offence.
He was, therefore, willing to adjourn his sentence to see if he could keep up that progress, he said.
Steve Young, defending, said Sullivan had committed the offence soon after being released on licence from prison and he had been unable to get any benefits, which prompted the theft.
The sentencing was adjourned to December 1.
