09/10/2009 - Paratroopers intervention foils theft
A farmer in County Durham has had the last laugh after an alleged thief who stole his quad bike ran into a group of special forces soldiers while he was trying to escape.
The unlucky thief stole the £5,500 bike from farm worker Nick Walker at 9am on Monday, according to police reports.
Mr Walker, who was working at the family farm in Satley, heard the 450cc bike being fired up and then saw it speeding away.
The 26-year-old then jumped on another quad bike and chased three miles south eventually reaching the outskirts of Tow Law.
After reaching speeds of 50mph the man reportedly lost control and wrecked the bike escaping from the scene of the accident on foot.
But at that exact moment a busload of Dutch soldiers heading to a routine training exercise spotted the escaping man and grabbed him. The paratroopers knelt on the suspect's back until the police arrived to arrest him.
Acting Inspector Peter Dawson thanked the soldiers for their help in detaining the suspect.
"He would not have expected to run into a group of special forces soldiers. It just wasn't his day and goes to show the bad guys do not always get away with it."
A 25-year-old man was charged with theft and driving without a licence or insurance and will appear before magistrates next week.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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