Bungling thieves who tried to steal a £10,000 roller on the day of the Queen's funeral made one small mistake - it was too big to fit in their van.
Kieron Heslop and Paul Stephenson struck at a construction site where artificial pitches were being laid at a Newcastle sports ground, knowing it would be quiet on the bank holiday on September 19 last year. But a security firm monitoring CCTV at Bullocksteads, behind Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club, saw what they were up to and informed police.
Having broken a padlock to gain entry, they stole £300 of diesel from a container and were in the process of trying to load the rolling machine into the back of a van when officers turned up. They tried to run off but with the help of a police dog, which bit Stephenson, both were arrested.
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Joe Hedworth, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "They targeted the premises because they knew there would be no one there because it was the Queen's funeral."
Heslop, 30, of Hall Lane Estate, Willington, Crook, County Durham, who has 63 previous convictions and Stephenson, 31, of Glenluce, Birtley, Gateshead, never in trouble before, pleaded guilty to theft. Heslop was sentenced to nine months suspended for two years with 150 hours unpaid work while Stephenson got a community order with 100 hours unpaid work.
Penny Hall, for Heslop, said: "He stupidly committed this offence. It's not sophisticated - when you look at the photographs of the roller being put in the van, it clearly not going to fit. The roller and diesel were left at the scene so no loss was caused and there was no damage to the roller."
Jonathan Cousins, for Stephenson, said: "He has begun the process of putting his life back together and getting himself back on his feet." The court heard he acted out of character at a time when he was "at a low point in his life".
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