Chester OAP stopped would-be cement mixer thief

Apr 24 2008 by Laurie Stocks-Moore, Chester Chronicle

A PENSIONER stopped a would-be thief from escaping with his cement mixer.

Appearing at Chester Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Timothy Barry Jones, 46, who stays at homeless centre Roodee House, Grosvenor Street admitted trying to steal the equipment on December 7 last year.

Jones attempted to steal a cement mixer and a hand saw from pensioner Ernest Bunney’s garden in Dolphin Court, Hough Green.

At 6am he was dragging the cement mixer under a gate when Mr Bunney shouted from a window before coming outside.

Jones abandoned the cement mixer and hand saw but the witness caught up with him.

Prosecutor Anne Rouse said: “He was pushing a pedal cycle with a trailer attached containing scrap metal.

“Mr Bunney took the items and said he could have them back when the police arrived.”

Jones was in breach of a two-year conditional discharge for another theft and cannabis possession when he committed the attempted theft.

Bench CHair Jane Krause handed Jones a six-month supervision order and ordered him to pay £60 in prosecution costs.