Coventry man forced to relay stolen turf

[dutchman]

A man who was filmed on security cameras stealing turf from a new housing estate has now relaid it.

Police said the 32-year-old wanted a new lawn for his girlfriend's children to use at his home in Bulls Head Lane, Stoke, in Coventry.

He was filmed taking his wheelie bin to the estate on Humber Road in the early hours of Saturday and loading it up.

Developers, Bellway Homes, agreed with police that the man would replace the turf as a "community resolution".

Community resolutions can include an apology from an offender, an offer of compensation or a promise to clear up any graffiti or criminal damage, police said.

'Learnt lesson'

If an offender agrees to one but does not comply, they can still be arrested and prosecuted.

The man was caught on cameras at the Peugeot offices, off Humber Road.

They tracked his journey and police arrested him later on Saturday, the spokesman added.

Sgt Craig Rayson, from West Midlands Police, said: "Community resolutions give victims of lower level offences the opportunity to let the police know how they would like the crime to be dealt with.

"I'm sure that our offender in this case has learnt his lesson and is genuinely sorry for what he did."

[PoundShopPeter]

Perhaps he could go into business as a turf layer now

[pollyanna]

Serves him right