Bradford’s Batman has been warned by a judge he could face Christmas behind bars.
The caped crusader, alias Stan Worby, was today convicted of burglary by a jury after he was caught in a silver Ford Mondeo loaded with stolen goods.
He was arrested in a police swoop when a householder reported his neighbour’s garage was being burgled, Bradford Crown Court heard.
Police were there in minutes and found Worby, 40, at the wheel of the Mondeo and his friend, Daniel Frayne, in the vehicle with him.
In February, Worby, 40, of Milner Ing, Delph Hill, Bradford, made worldwide headlines after he handed Frayne in at Trafalgar House Police Station dressed as superhero Batman.
CCTV images of takeaway delivery man Worby in his outfit were revealed by the police and caused a global sensation.
Worby had denied burgling the garage in Summerhall Ing, Wyke, Bradford, at 4am on April 14.
Frayne, 27, formerly of Queen Street, Buttershaw, Bradford, but now living in Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to the charge at an earlier hearing.
Prosecutor Richard Canning said officers were on the scene minutes after receiving the 999 call. Boxes of power tools stolen from the garage were piled up in the back of the Mondeo.
A witness had seen Frayne running to and from the garage with stolen items to what was believed to be a waiting car.
Worby told the court he picked Frayne up from the street to go to a car boot sale in Dewsbury.
When Frayne loaded ten to 12 boxes into the car, he believed they were bric-a-brac to sell that morning.
Mr Canning accused Worby of telling the jury “nonsense and absolute rubbish”.
After the jury’s guilty verdict, Simon Hustler, Worby’s solicitor advocate, asked for a probation service report.
Worby’s previous convictions for burglary were some time ago, the court was told.
Judge David Hatton QC adjourned the case until December 20.
He told Worby: “You have been convicted of burglary of a dwelling house and you must understand that offences of that sort almost invariably result in a sentence of imprisonment.”
Worby was bailed until the next hearing.
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