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Video: A different kind of individual pursuit - Derby PCSO chases down bike thief

Scott Liddle was handed a suspended sentence less than two weeks ago - now he's behind bars for reoffending...

Police in Derbyshire have released dramatic footage of a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) setting off in pursuit of a man who had been planning to steal a bike from a shelter at the train station at Pride Park.

PCSO Jim Sadler of the Alvaston Safer Neighbourhood Team was on a bike patrol on the afternoon of Thursday 23 August when he spotted 37-year-old Scott Liddle acting suspiciously.When the officer stopped to challenge him, Liddle handed him his backpack – later found to contain a pair of bolt croppers – and rode off.

The PCSO chased after he as he headed along bike paths towards the city centre, and radioed colleagues for assistance and kept them informed of the pursuit.

He made the catch just as colleagues appeared on foot from the opposite direction, who handcuffed Liddle.

The following Saturday 25 August, Liddle appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to going equipped for theft and the theft of a bicycle from St Christopher’s Way, Derby earlier in the week.

He received a suspended 18-week jail sentence, but was arrested again earlier this week in connection with further thefts of bikes.

Liddle, of no fixed abode, was back in court on Wednesday when he was jailed for 36 weeks and given a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order preventing him from going to certain parts of the city centre.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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8 comments

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Canyon48 | 5 years ago
1 like

Did he get any KOM's though?

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ChrisB200SX | 5 years ago
1 like

I wonder how much bike theft crime is reduced while this guy is behind bars?

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Hirsute | 5 years ago
0 likes

Dramatic? Would that be when the copper cycled on the wrong side of the road ?

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fenix | 5 years ago
0 likes

Best police chase ever.

I think the bolt croppers are probably worth more than the bike he took.

Clearly the thief needs help.

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fenix | 5 years ago
2 likes

Best police chase ever.

I think the bolt croppers are probably worth more than the bike he took.

Clearly the thief needs help.

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Tommytrucker | 5 years ago
0 likes

Didn't think anyone would remember that, what a programme 

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don simon fbpe | 5 years ago
3 likes

I'm surprised at the lack of tyre noise.

#PacificBlue

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Tommytrucker | 5 years ago
5 likes

Aww, I thought he had lights and a siren on his helmet until I saw the police car.

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