Burglar jumped from window of Blackburn church (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Burglar jumped from window of Blackburn church
11:39am Monday 13th August 2012 in Crime news
A 22-year-old man caught in the act of burgling a Blackburn church went to great lengths to escape.
Blackburn magistrates heard Michael James Samson jumped 15 feet out of the church window with a crow bar in his hand before scaling a wall.
He then jumped into the canal to try and evade police dogs and eventually struggled with officers to such an extent that he had to be Parva sprayed.
Samson, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to burglary at St Paul’s Methodist Church, Higher Audley Street, and theft of a charity box. He was committed in custody to Preston Crown Court for sentence.
Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, said the church caretaker and her husband lived in a flat adjoining the church and were woken shortly after 5am by banging noises coming from the church. They found the front door damaged and immediately called the police.
“They arrived shortly after and saw Samson jump 15 feet out of the window,” said Mr Robinson. “During the chase that followed the crow bar, charity box and a balaclava were thrown into the canal.”
