Thief caught by off duty officer avoids jail

A thief arrested by an off-duty policeman who saw him trying to break into a parked van has avoided an immediate jail sentence.

Darren Vincent, of Denbigh Drive in West Bromwich, pleaded guilty to trying to break into the van on August 27 and stealing a sat-nav and solar-powered torch worth £150 from a white Renault Kangoo on October 11.

The 26-year-old was given a suspended sentence of eight weeks in custody for interfering with a vehicle and 12 weeks for theft from a vehicle to run concurrently.

He was also given a 12-month supervision order and told to complete a six-month drug rehabilitation programme. Vincent was also ordered to pay £170 costs.

The court heard how he bent down to make it look as if he was tying his shoelace before reaching into the van on August 27.

Sgt Matt Walker, of Wolverhampton Police Station, was walking down Castle Street, Wolverhampton, when he spotted Vincent.

Despite it being his day off, the officer gave chase and pounced on the suspect, wrestling him to the floor. He then alerted his colleagues who took over. Miss Kelly Hales, prosecuting, added: "On October 11 the defendant was also apprehended in bushes after he stole a sat-nav from a white Renault Kangoo on Greets Green Road."

Mr Kirandeep Soor, defending, said Vincent deserved credit for his early guilty plea.

He added that he had had a difficult upbringing and became addicted to heroin and crack. Vincent's arrest happened just next to the Express & Star's head office, and was captured on camera.