Undercover police spotted Blackburn man raiding empty bus (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Undercover police spotted Blackburn man raiding empty bus

4:00pm Thursday 17th January 2013 in Blackburn

A 32-YEAR-OLD man who climbed on to an unmanned bus claimed he was looking for a timetable.

Blackburn magistrates heard Michael Harries was arrested by police officers who were on covert observations in a nearby building regarding a totally different matter. Michael Harries’ story was described in court as a “ludicrous”.

District Judge Peter Ward said: “You spotted a chance to get on this bus and see if there was anything to steal.

“The bus information office was just a few yards away and it was still open and if you had wanted a timetable you could have gone in there for one.”

Harries, of Swift Close, Blackburn, pleaded not guilty to vehicle interference but was convicted after a trial.

He was made subject to community supervision for nine months with a drug rehabilitation requirement.

The court heard that as he passed the bus in Street he the emergency button and the doors opened.

He boarded the bus and the officers in a nearby building saw him rooting in the driver’s area.

Damian Pickup, defending, said his client’s explanation was unusual but one he was adamant was the truth.