Burglar Jailed After Being Caught Hiding In Cupboard In His Underpants

A burglar has been jailed after police caught him hiding in a cupboard in his underpants.

Body-cam footage shows a Staffordshire police officer opening a cupboard in a Winchester Avenue property in Bentilee, revealing Ashley Bowen in nothing but his undies.

The 29-year-old had been on the run for a month after breaking into a Co-op and attempting to steal cigarettes.

Bowen, from Stockington Avenue, Stoke-on-Trent, used a crowbar to break into the store in Endon, Staffordshire, on 3 December last year. He then jumped over the counter and tried to open a cigarette cabinet with the crowbar, and after several failed attempts, he tried again with an angle grinder without success.

He also failed to smash open an ATM in the store with the tool and left empty-handed, having caused significant damage.

He was wanted by police for more than a month, until they eventually tracked him down to the cupboard on 18 January.

Detective Constable David Stubbs said: "Bowen persisted in his efforts to get cigarettes from the store but we persisted in our efforts to catch him. Those who commit crime will be brought to justice."

Bowen was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent crown court on 11 May after pleading guilty to assault by beating, damaging property, burglary, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance on 28 May 2019. He also pleading guilty to obstructing a police officer on 18 January.

SWNS

He was jailed for 18 months for the burglary on 3 December and two months for damaging property.

He was also jailed for 10 months, disqualified from driving for 27 months and ordered to take an extended driving test in connection with a separate dangerous driving offence.

While being caught hiding in your knickers is a little embarrassing, at least he didn't give away his hiding spot by farting, like a wanted man in the US did.

Liberty Police Department, Missouri, were searching for a person wanted for possession of a controlled substance, and during a search of a home officers stumbled across the suspect after they farted too loudly, giving away their hiding spot.

A spokesperson for Clay County Sheriff's Office confirmed the story on the force's Facebook page.

They said: "If you've got a felony warrant for your arrest, the cops are looking for you and you pass gas so loud it gives up your hiding spot, you're definitely having a sh** day."

Topics: Police, UK News, Funny, crime

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey