Sign of the times: Road nameplate thief appears in court

4:26pm Friday 5th September 2008

POLICE stopped a 34-year-old man seen riding a bicycle in the early hours and carrying a road nameplate in his hand, District Judge Alan Jones was told at Wirral Magistrates Court.

Ian Wesley Dalzell, of Seabank Road, Wallasey, admitted theft of a Bedford Road nameplate belonging to Wirral Council. He told officers he found it lying in the street and picked it up and took it.

He was going to keep it at his home address and did not think he had done anything wrong.

Tessa Hinder, defending, said she was not impressed by the council. It seemed the sign had been left lying around for six months after a wall was demolished.

Dalzell took it on impulse and knew he had been incredibly stupid.

The judge said it was theft by finding and put it down to foolishness.

He granted Dalzell a six months’ conditional discharge.