Villain is caught in the act on camera

They are there to protect the public by identifying criminals, but that didn't stop Steven Wardle taking the chance of stealing CCTV cameras across Wolverhampton.

The 35-year-old stole nine of the devices from a doctor's surgery, council offices and buildings belonging to a housing association in a month-long crime spree.

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But he forgot one thing – the cameras were switched on and taking pictures of him.

Now he has received a suspended prison sentence and 150 hours of unpaid work for his "foolish actions".

Wardle was sentenced at Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court this week after pleading guilty to stealing two cameras, having previously admitted taking another seven.

He had also admitted handling stolen number plates. Wardle put these on two vehicles which he then filled up at a petrol station before driving off without paying.

Pushpa Sheemar, prosecuting, said the cameras Wardle stole were switched on so stills were taken from the cameras from which he was identified.

Four were taken from Keats Grove Surgery, Scotlands; two from Wolverhampton Homes; and three from city council offices, in Alfred Squire Road, Wednesfield.

Following the case, councillor Philip Bateman MBE, who represents Wednesfield North Ward, said Wardle had been "irresponsible and foolish".

He said: "Clearly this man has been caught red-handed and I'm sure the community will be pleased to know he has been dealt with by the courts."

The court heard how the CCTV cameras were never recovered.

Ms Sheemar said the number plates Wardle used were stolen from a Grey Peugeot car belonging to Janet Watson that was parked on a drive in the Wolverhampton area on Monday, April 30.

She said the thief had first put them on a Renault Megane which he took to the BP garage in Stafford Road on Tuesday, May 1.

He filled up with diesel worth £35 before leaving without paying.

Wardle then did the same thing with a van and £14.06 of fuel on Saturday, May 5.

Wardle, of Arnhem Close, Long Knowle, escaped immediate prison after magistrates gave him credit for pleading guilty to three counts of theft, two of making off without payment, and one of handling stolen goods.

He received 24 weeks in prison, suspended for one year, and a 12-month community and supervision order, to include 150 hours unpaid work .

Wardle must also attend a victim awareness course including eight sessions.

Magistrates chairman, Jan Bird, ordered Wardle to pay compensation of £25 to the car owner, £1,020 to the council, £500 to Wolverhampton Homes, £750 to the surgery, £49.06 to BP, and £150 court costs. He was ordered to pay back the cash at a rate of £80 a month.

She said: "We feel this crosses the custody threshold because you have targeted community buildings over a short period of time.

"I believe you've had a suspended sentence in the past that has been activated so you know what will happen if you commit an offence in the next 12 months."

Wolverhampton Homes refused to reveal where the cameras had been stolen from for "security reasons".

Wardle's bizarre crimes were not the first instance of CCTV thefts in the West Midlands recent times.

In April, a camera worth £7,500 was taken a Walsall street after it was installed just a month before.

Walsall South Area Partnership agreed that a camera was needed as the result of drug issues and anti-social behaviour in Brace Street, Caldmore.

But the camera was stolen from a lamp post and there were no plans to replace it with new equipment.

Councillor Zahid Ali, chairman of the Walsall South Area Partnership, previously said thefts like this would not be tolerated.

He said: "In Brace Street, what we were hearing from residents was about anti-social behaviour. There is some form of drug activity. It puts a blight on people's lives."