A crafty shoplifter who hoodwinked cops into takin

A crafty shoplifter who hoodwinked cops into taking him to hospital so he could escape was today (Fri) spared jail and wished the best of luck by an Old Bailey judge.

Heroin-addict Paul Bater, went on the run for six months after being snared stealing from a record shop.

While waiting in the police station he told officers he was suffering from cold turkey and asked to be seen by a doctor.

But sly Bater, 19, took his chances in Barnet Hospital’s packed Accident and Emergency room giving police and doctors the slip.

Bater had been caught shop-lifting in Virgin in Harrow but when taken in he put his cunning plan into action.

Prosecutor Robin Griffiths said: ‘At Colindale police station he was taken ill.

He was complaining of stomach cramps.

‘The emergency department at the hospital was very busy and he was taken to a consultation room while an officer remained outside.

‘When the doctor opened the curtains he had left through an open door in a hurry.

‘

The policeman gave chase and there was, ‘quite a hue and cry,’ said the prosecutor.

Bizarrely the same officer who had been given the run-around on February 21 this year, saw Bater outside the station six months later and hauled him in.

But he again managed to pull the wool over their eyes by spinning cops another cock and bull story.

As their backs were turned, Bater who has already been to prison for stealing cars, was again on the run.

Mr Griffiths said: ‘He told the police officer he had just been to court and given fine and had papers to prove it.

‘He took Bater into the station to check and as his back was turned, true to his nature, left the building.

‘

When later found by police he said he was suffering from heroin withdrawal and that is also why he stole from the record shop.

In a statement he said: ‘I was getting withdrawal pains and they were worse than usual.

‘I just wanted to out to take the cramps away.

‘

Bater, of (41b) Clewer Court, Harrow, pleaded guilty to theft by shoplifting and later to escape.

Judge Graham Boal, QC, said to the court: ‘His record is only too familiar when dealing with young men who are in the grip of drug addiction.

Referring to Bater’s previous flights of freedom, Judge Boal said: ‘Escape from lawful custody is a very serious offence.

‘

He pointed out the two dock officers keeping a close eye on the youngster.

And giving the teenager the choice of 18-months of drug treatment or a spell behind bars, Judge Boal said: ‘All your problems stem from your addiction to drugs and your life is in your own hands.

‘Either you go down one road and spend increasingly longer periods behind bars or you will take the first difficult steps to recovery and fulfilment and the choice is yours – no one else can do it for you.

‘If you agree I am going to make a drug treatment and testing order.

‘

When Bater accepted the judge warned him this was not a soft option and straying from the, ‘rigorous and demanding’ treatment would lead to him, ‘going down the stairs to the cells.

‘

And to make sure Bater remembered his words of warning, the judge gave him a copy of his speech to take with him.

Before Bater left the court Judge Boal offered him some words of encouragement.

He said to the grateful youngster: ‘Don’t let me down but more importantly don’t let yourself down – and good luck.

‘

Under new legislation Bater must report back to court once a month while undergoing treatment at the Harrow Community Drug and Alcohol Unit.

ends