Laptop thief in police sting

A DAD-of-three who stole a computer from a car, learned he was part of a sting by Oldham Police.

Anthony Gary Holt (30), of Trough Gate, Hollins, pleaded guilty to stealing the Advent laptop worth £450 belonging to Greater Manchester Police.

Prosecutor Julie Spaven told Oldham magistrates how Holt could not sleep on March 21, so he went for a walk. He came across the laptop, which had been left on the seat of a Fiat in Lyndhurst Road.

At 4am, police learned that the laptop had been moved from the car and were able to track it to the defendant’s address, where Holt told officers that the laptop was under the sofa.

“The car was open so I took it. I don’t know why I bothered because it doesn’t even work,” he said.

Holt was given a 12-month community order with supervision, plus 40 hours unpaid work and was ordered to pay £85 costs.