A quick-thinking lad was the cog in the wheel for Darren Butt, a burglar who broke into a home in his neighborhood.
Darren Butt had made away with his booty of DVDs and a laptop belonging to a child with special needs, unknown to him that an eagle-eyed boy (not named) had seen him while escaping and informed his dad Christopher Horn.
Christopher promptly took a series of photos of the light-fingered crook as he left the property with his haul.
Father and son as sidekick immediately passed the photos to police, who recognised Butt and quickly arrested him.
Once Butt, 37 was brought in for questioning he admitted that it was him in the photo, and that he had burgled the house.
He pleaded guilty to two house burglaries and asked for 15 other offences to be considered.
He said he stole the items to raise money for drugs, but had already sold the goods on and could not help to recover them.
David Miller, his barrister, said there was nothing he could say to excuse Butt’s actions.
But he claimed that drink and drugs were at the root of Butt’s problems, and he had struggled since the break-up of a relationship.
Miller said: “The relationship failed, he hit the bottle and drugs shortly after that, and the rest, as they say, is history.”
Prosecuting attorney, John Penny explained vivdly in court the whole scenario.
“Around midday Christopher Horn was told by his young son someone had gone through a window of his neighbour’s house, and the window was hanging off its hinge.
“Mr Horn fetched his SLR camera and positioned himself where he could see the window.
“He saw a man climbing out of the window and he took pictures of the man, who was carrying a bag and leaving.
“He passed those pictures to the police and they identified Mr Butt and arrested him the next day.”
Penny also told the court that Butt was on bail for another burglary at the time of the break-in.
Pictures of his escape caught on camera below