Bungling Devon thief jailed after breaking into ticket machine

A bungling Devon thief will be tucking into Christmas dinner behind bars this year after being jailed for breaking into a ticket machine at Torre railway station.

Andrew George, 44, was caught on camera - along with his accomplice Michael Batty, aged 34 - trying to steal cash from the machine on 7 August.

The pair tried to throw police off the scent by turning up three hours earlier and breaking a CCTV camera before putting bin bags and tape over the machine to make it look like it was out of order while they tampered with it.

However, what they did not realise was that a CCTV operator had spun another camera around to point right at them, catching them in the act as George tried to get cash from the machine while Batty acted as lookout.

Officers arrived at the scene and arrested the pair, who tried to flee along the platform.

Both men were charged with attempted theft and criminal damage, with George of Rathmore Road, Torquay, facing additional charges for possession of class A and B drugs. George admitted the offences and was sentenced to 14 weeks behind bars at Torquay Magistrates' Court on 14 December.

Batty, of Church Street, Paignton, pleaded not guilty and claimed he did not realise what George was doing. However, he was found guilty and received a 14-week sentence, suspended for 12 months.

PC Darran Blackwell from BTP said: "While the pair did not get away with any money, the damage to the ticket machine cost somewhere in the region of £15,000 to fix.

"This is isn't a victimless crime; the cost will be passed onto the train company and it's exactly the sort of criminal activity which contributes towards higher ticket prices for passengers.

"We are satisfied the courts have recognised the impact such offences have on rail users by passing a custodial sentence and we hope this spell behind bars will give George time to reflect on his behaviour."