Ornament thief foiled by ex-cop

Ricky Geoffrey Calladine, 37 of Church Avenue pleaded guilty to assault and attempted theft at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

The court was told the occupier of the house in Cuckney had been awoken by a security light coming on outside his property in the early hours of 1st May and saw Calladine walking towards his garden shed.

The man went out to confront Calladine, who tried to make an escape. The complainant blocked his path and tried to grab him, but Calladine pushed him away.

Calladine managed to get into his car and as the complainant - a retired police officer - tried to smash his car window to stop him getting away, he managed to drive off.

The complainant found a large stone and metal boot scraper had been moved from its original position as a gate stopper onto his lawn.

When he was arrested, Calladine told police he had been out “nicking garden ornaments”, claiming he was hoping to sell them on and was hoping start up his own business.

He said he had not meant to assault the resident, he had panicked and bumped into him.

The court heard Calladine had tested positive for opiates and had struggled with drug abuse in the past. He told his probation officer he had been looking to steal items to fund his drugs use.

He was given a community order for 9 months with a six month drug rehabilitation order he was ordered to pay £100 compensation and a £180 criminal court charge.