Warrant issued for 'bungling burglar'

David Gardner had to be rescued by firefighters

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a bungling burglar who got himself trapped in the chimney of a pub he was trying to raid.

David Gardner had to be rescued by firefighters in March, when a trader heard his cries for help from a ventilation shaft.

Gardner, of Newbigin Hall Estate in Newcastle, was carrying screwdrivers, pliers and a hammer, as part of his attempt to break into the pub.

He told police officers he had climbed into the shaft at the Twin Farms pub, in Kenton Bank Foot, to rescue a cat, but became stuck.

Emergency services called

He was due to be sentence on Monday after admitting attempting to burgle the pub.

But he failed to turn up at Newcastle Magistrates' Court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

An earlier hearing was told a greengrocer called the emergency services after he heard the 28-year-old's muffled pleas for help.

Gardner had crawled into the 18-inch ventilation shaft and managed to wriggle 12 feet down the aluminium piping, before becoming stuck in a bend.

On Monday, court officials waited two hours for Gardner, before issuing an arrest warrant.