A hapless burglar leapt from an upstairs window when he was caught in the act burgling a home.
Darren McFadyen had broken into an empty house just around the corner from where he lived in Cowgate, Newcastle, and had started trying to steal copper pipes and a boiler, a court heard. However, the 31-year-old failed to successfully use the cover of darkness to remain discreet as somebody on the street noticed what he was doing and made an anonymous tip-off to police.
Officers arrived at the scene on Moorview Crescent and entered the property after hearing McFadyen inside and watched as he jumped from an upstairs bedroom window. But his bungled attempt at escape didn't last long and he was detained and arrested outside.
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McFadyen, of Moorvale Lane, in Cowgate, could now be locked up after he pleaded guilty to burglary at Newcastle Magistrates' Court.
Kingsley Njoku, prosecuting, said police got an anonymous call on February 10 this year to say a burglary was taking place at a home, which was owned by Your Homes Newcastle and was empty while it was being renovated. Mr Njoku continued: "Officers attended and went to the rear of the property and discovered damage to the rear door.
"They heard someone in the property, so they entered. As they entered, the defendant jumped out the top bedroom window into the front garden. The officers gave chase and he was caught very close by."
The court heard that tools, including a screw driver, were found at the scene but McFadyen denied they were his or ever touching them. He did, however, change his tune after his DNA was found on the items. During interview, McFadyen said he had entered the property with the intention of stealing copper pipes and the boiler.
Lewis Pearson, defending, said McFadyen, who has 10 past convictions, had started taking drugs after his partner died of an overdose and he struggled to look after their young son. Mr Pearson added: "He needed money to get a stable address in order to get his son back living with him. He doesn't remember much
"He does remember that the property had already been broken into and the back door was already damaged." Magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report and released McFadyen on unconditional bail to next appear at the same court on October 13.
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