Firemen called to rescue garden gnome from roof of building

Firefighters had to rescue a gnome from the roof of a three-storey building. The foot-high plaster figure had been left dangling dangerously on the roof edge by a prankster.

Fearing that it would drop on to the pedestrians below, the fire brigade were called out. They had to use an extending ladder to grab the gnome and stop it falling.

Yesterday, jobless Kyle Smith, 18, appeared in court and admitted reckless behaviour over the stunt. Elgin Sheriff Court heard Smith, of the town's Pinegrove, had climbed on to the roof of a Boots the Chemist.



He then left the gnome on the edge, much to the amusement of his sniggering pals sitting down below. But the stunt was spotted by shop staff. The court was told the "rescue" operation cost the fire service £341. The offence happened on June 24 last year. He was on bail at the time.

Sheriff Noel McPartlin ordered Smith to pay for the cost of the rescue. He said: "I think, at the very least, you should pay for the cost of services coming to undo the damage."

David Adams, defending, said: "His whole thinking was that it might look amusing. There was a fair bit of showing off going on."