‘Burglar’ falls down 30ft well and calls 999 after Para chases him from break-in

Officers were called to the Boothtown area of the town by a 21-year-old man who told them he had fallen down the uncovered, 5ft-wide hole at around 5.20am yesterday.

Minutes earlier residents in nearby Bell Street had called police to report a break-in at a house, and said locals were giving chase.

Today Major Andrew Wareing, 37, of the Parachute Regiment, described how he chased a man from his street but lost sight of him after he jumped over a wall into some brambles.

The Army officer, who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said: “Then I heard the silence followed by a bang and then whimpering.”

He said: “There are thousands of people in this country that would do the same and I am no different.”

Maj Wareing is serving with 4 Para and has been in the regiment for 14 years.

His wife, Dawn, said: “He wouldn’t have let him get away, he’s like a dog with a bone. He would have chased him across Halifax if he’d had to.”

Inspector David Whitehouse of West Yorkshire Police said: “It would appear that the gentleman who fell down the well was one of the burglars who was fleeing the scene.

“He was chased by a neighbour, climbed a small wall, dropped down a banking approximately 20ft before then falling down a 30ft-deep well.

“The well, it would appear, was uncovered and hidden from view to the fleeing suspect.”

The well in Claremount Road, Boothtown, was located next to a graveyard.

Fire and ambulance crews were called to the scene and firefighters climbed down and he was rescued around two-and-a-half hours after he fell.

He was arrested on suspicion of burglary when he was freed, and then taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary complaining of back pain.

Insp Whitehouse said: “He has a fractured lower vertebra which, although it sounds serious, is not going to be something that would impair his future health and is going to be treatable.”

Officers were today waiting to question the man following his release from hospital.