Mansfield shoplifter jailed 24 weeks after river chase through River Maun

Simon Child, 46, fled police after stealing steaks from M&S in Mansfield and was caught mid-river after a struggle. He was jailed for 24 weeks.

Shoplifter caught in River Maun jailed for 24 weeks

A Mansfield shoplifter has been sentenced to 24 weeks in prison after a police officer pursued him into a river to make the arrest, BBC News reports.

Simon Child, 46, of no fixed abode, stole steaks from the Marks and Spencer store in Mansfield on 11 August before fleeing on foot as officers closed in. According to Google News UK — Crime (en), Nottinghamshire Police said Child ran through the River Maun beneath a bridge in the direction of Titchfield Park, where he was eventually detained "after a brief struggle".

Child admitted two charges — theft and assaulting a police officer — and was sentenced at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Sgt Catherine Darby, from Nottinghamshire Police's Mansfield town centre policing team, praised the response of the officers involved. "This was a great bit of work by all the officers involved, particularly the officer who entered the water," she said. "He used his extensive local knowledge to catch up with and detain a suspect attempting a highly unusual getaway."

Darby added that the officer was both assaulted and left soaking wet during the arrest. "He may have got wet and been assaulted for his troubles, but he provided an exceptional service to the people of Mansfield."

Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)