A MAN in a balaclava seen stealing from the boot of a Mercedes told the police he was out for a walk at dead of night miles from his home.

Danny Thomas, 30, of Burneston Gardens, Buttershaw, Bradford, was pursued and apprehended near the scene of the crime in Halifax.

He pleaded guilty to theft of £400 of items from the unlocked vehicle on July 30 last year.

Thomas also admitted committing the offence in breach of a suspended sentence order imposed in January, 2020, for unlawful wounding and coercive behaviour.

Prosecutor Harry Crowson told Bradford Crown Court today that a neighbour two men in balaclavas rooting through the car boot. Police officers were promptly at the scene and Thomas was caught hiding in some bushes.

He said he was out for a walk in the night although he was miles from home.

The court heard that the other man was never apprehended.

Thomas had two previous convictions for four offences, including two of theft from a vehicle.

His barrister, Saf Salam, said he had an intellectual disability and was exploited and pressed to join in with the theft. The suspended sentence order had now expired.

Judge Jonathan Gibson sentenced Thomas to a community order with a 14-day electronically monitored curfew order.