Collingham man sentenced at Nottingham Remand Court for farm burglary in Eakring said he was walking home from Mansfield over 24 miles away

A man sentenced for a burglary at a farm gave the excuse he was walking home from a town 24 miles away.

Mark Patterson, 42, of Dykes End, Collingham, was spotted walking away from the farm by an officer on the way to the incident.

He initially told officers he was looking for a toilet and drink at the farm's outbuildings, but it was later found he matched the suspect's description.

The incident happened in Eakring on Monday, April 13, at 9pm after a farmer reported a man on his property acting suspiciously, looking around sheds and trying doors.

The caller reported he spoke with the man who said he had been walking back from Mansfield and he was looking for a toilet.

When officers were dispatched to the area they spotted a figure stood on the opposite side of the road flashing a red bike light, which revealed he had a large rucksack.

He told officers he had been in Mansfield and was now walking back home to Collingham, a considerable distance to walk.

The man was asked to sit in the back of a police car to keep him off the road in the pitch black.

An officer then recognised the man as someone he had dealt with before and checked his name with colleagues in the control room to confirm who he was.

Police spoke again to the farmer as he checked local CCTV and it was found the description of the man on the footage matched the walking man discovered by officers.

Patterson was then arrested on suspicion of burglary and transported to Mansfield Police Station.

When in custody he was thoroughly searched and a multi-tool and screwdriver heads were found in connection with the burglary. Nothing was stolen by.

Mark Patterson appeared at Nottingham Remand Court on Wednesday and was convicted of burglary with intent to steal. He was given an eight-week suspended sentence.

Pc Daniel Gray, who led the investigation, said: "This was good and quick work by our rural officers. We are pleased that this burglar, who is well-known in the rural community, has been convicted."

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