Burglar falls down well then calls for help from iPhone he just stole

A BURGLAR broke his back and spent eight days in hospital after falling down a well as he fled from a paratrooper.

Ashley Musgrove fell 30 feet down the well in Halifax in March as he tried to get away from Major Andrew Wareing, 37, but a court heard yesterday the 22-year-old was able to ring for an ambulance using the iPhone he had just stolen.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Musgrove, who had been drinking and snorting cocaine, broke his back as a result of the fall in March and fire crews and specialist units had to be called out to rescue him.

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The court was told Musgrove, of Royd Rise, Boothtown, Halifax, had entered the occupied house in Bell Street through an insecure door and had disturbed a woman who was sleeping downstairs.

The major, a neighbour, pursued Musgrove after seeing him run away from the property. Major Wareing, 37, described earlier this year how he had chased the burglar towards a church on Claremount Road where Musgrove jumped over a wall and landed on some brambles.

“He tried to slide off the brambles, but disappeared from my sight,” said the major, “then I heard silence followed by a bang and then whimpering.”

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC asked Musgrove’s barrister Peter Hampton if his client was still suffering from his self- inflicted injury.

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Mr Hampton replied: “It’s just this week that he has stopped using a walking stick”.

The court heard that the stolen iPhone and a handbag were recovered from the well.

Mr Hampton said his client had learned his lesson and Judge Durham Hall said he was prepared to follow the recommendation in the pre-sentence report.

Musgrove, who admitted the burglary charge, had a nine-month community order, with supervision for nine months, imposed on him as well as a three-month electronically-monitored curfew.

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