James Langhor, of no fixed abode, drove the stolen Ford Transit which belonged to Euro Car Parts in Banbury.

He initially pleaded not guilty to going equipped for burglary and one count of burglary.

He is alleged to have stolen keys and had a glass hammer and balaclava when going to the same parts shop.

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However when the 35-year-old appeared at Oxford Crown Court on July 16, the prosecution offered no evidence on those charges.

He pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods, namely the van, on April 18 this year.

Langhor previously pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving and one count of driving while disqualified at Barbridge Road, Bulkington, in a Ford Transit van on the same day.

A pre-sentence report was ordered ahead of his sentencing hearing on August 13.

Langhor is on remand in custody.

The correspondence between the celebrated author and Eileen Elgar, dating from the 1960s, was auctioned at Sotheby’s in London.

Among the items was a letter referencing the death of author C.S. Lewis and a signed copy of “The Adventures of Tom Bombadil,” which alone fetched £20,480.

The entire collection, including six signed books and five letters, reached a total selling price of £103,680, inclusive of the seller’s premium.

Elgar, who died in 1980, lived near the Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth, where Tolkien and his wife regularly holidayed.

She began writing to the Oxford-based author in her fifties, advised by her daughter to seek answers to her questions about his books directly from him.

The correspondence developed into a friendship, with Elgar offering suggestions for Tolkien’s work.

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Tolkien lived with his family at 22 Northmoor Road in Oxford from 1926 to 1930 and at 20 Northmoor Road (above) from 1930 to 1947. (Image: Oxford Blue Plaque Board)

The relationship grew to the extent that Tolkien visited Elgar at her home.

An autographed note, tucked into a copy of “The Fellowship of the Ring,” was also part of the auction.

The note revealed Tolkien’s thought process behind the creation of the race of Dwarves in Middle-earth and was part of a lot of three volumes of “The Lord of the Rings” from 1961.

Describing Elgar in a letter to his grandson in 1963, Tolkien noted her as an ‘admirer’ of his, ‘highly intelligent & well read,’ and ‘stone deaf,’ which meant communication had to be via ‘writing pad.’

A MyBus young person (aged five to 18 inclusive) day ticket will see the sharpest rise, going from £3.50 to £5.50 from August 1.

Children and teenagers buying the weekly ticket will have to pay 41 per cent more, up from £17 to £24.

MyBus adult day ticket will rise 30 per cent from £6.50 to £8.50 and an adult weekly ticket will cost £34, up 13 per cent from £30.

MyBus tickets are offered by Oxfordshire County Council and the bus companies for travel across the county.

The multi-operator tickets are offered on most routes for a fixed price, which the county council says is “simple, flexible and great-value”.

Councillor Gareth Epps, who represents Deddington (Image: Councillor Gareth Epps)

Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “MyBus has been a huge success. I do not want to change it.

“Government financial cuts are the only reason we are considering this unpalatable step.

“The revised fares will help ensure MyBus can continue to provide a convenient multi-operator ticket for passengers across Oxfordshire.

“These price changes are necessary to ensure that this important scheme can continue, in light of its growing popularity and the limited budget that Oxfordshire County Council has, to maintain operator participation.

“However, I will be writing to the secretary of state for transport to seek a better way forward for the future of MyBus.”

Since launching in 2024, MyBus has seen “strong uptake – particularly among young people”, the council said.

It described how passenger feedback consistently highlights the convenience, flexibility and savings offered by being able to travel across multiple bus operators with a single ticket

However, the government’s decision to increase the maximum single bus fare cap from £2 to £3 from 1 January 2025 meant that the savings offered by the MyBus tickets became more attractive, increasing sales, while also increasing the cost per ticket to Oxfordshire County Council.

The initial budget for the scheme has now been exhausted, meaning that price increases are required to maintain the availability of the tickets.

A council spokesman said: “Anyone affected by the changes may find that some operators’ own tickets – such as day, week or period products offered directly by bus companies – are cheaper for their journeys, particularly if they are only travelling on buses run by one company, or within the Oxford SmartZone.

“Check with your local bus operator for the best value ticket for your travel needs.

“In addition, the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme is expected to result in free August bus travel for five to 15 year olds, meaning that families can continue to enjoy low-cost travel over the summer holidays.”