Police found trapped burglar hanging by his shoelace

A bungling scrap thief was caught when he had to call 999 to be rescued after ending up dangling upside down on a fence after a botched getaway. David Stokle slipped and fell as he manoeuvred himself over the spiky fence in Casebourne Road, Hartlepool, and was left hanging by his shoelace with his head suspended above the floor.

The 28-year-old could not get himself free so panicked, reached into his pocket for his mobile phone and rang the fire brigade to save him - in a move that would see him basically hand himself in.



Fire officers arrived to find the dozy crook swinging from the fence with three stolen wagon batteries and his mountain bike next to him. He appeared in court on the same day that police in Hartlepool issued a warning to scrap thieves, after revealing how the town was being “systematically” stripped by people swiping metal.

After fire crews from Stranton station helped Stokle down, police were called and he was arrested and charged with theft by finding on February 25. He pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared at Hartlepool Magistrates’ Court.