Bungling thief puts himself in crime frame

For Dylan Walmsley left his phone in one of the cars he stole from and his picture was on the screensaver of his mobile.

A police officer recognised Walmsley from the picture on the phone screen and he was arrested.

Walmsley, 20, of Haig Road, South Shore, pleaded guilty to three offences of theft and asked for six similar offences of stealing from cars to be considered.

He was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, put on a 42-day tagged curfew from 9pm to 6am and ordered to pay £313 compensation by District Judge Jim Clarke sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

The judge told him: “This was something of a spree of night-time offending. I understand you were under substantial financial pressure at the time, but this was not the answer.”

Alison Quanbrough, prosecuting, said Walmsley took a jacket valued at £70 from a Mini on Headroomgate Road on January 17. He also stole a £55 camera and £15 of change from two cars in Chatham Avenue. Walmsley left his phone with his picture on the front in the footwell of one of the cars in Chatham Avenue.

Sarah McIntyre, defending, said on the day of the offence Walmsley’s partner was close to giving birth to his first child. He was panicking because he had no money to buy nappies, milk or clothes for the baby.

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