Naked burglar stuck on roof after shop manager pulls off his trousers

A BURGLAR was stranded half-naked on a Hull roof after a shop manager pulled his trousers off to stop him escaping.

Dean Platten, 29, was trapped on a roof, naked from the waist down, after being caught in the act of stealing two mountain bikes from a city centre cycle shop.

A court heard on Tuesday that Mr Neilson, 35, had got to Cliff Pratt’s Cycle Shop in Hull, on September 19 last year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

When he walked into the workshop he was greeted by the sight of Platten standing on a bench under a hole in the roof.

Charlotte Baines, prosecuting, told Hull Crown Court that Platten - who was trying to steal two bikes worth a combined £2,500 - tried to pull himself through the hole.

Platten - who committed the crime while on licence - managed to get up through the hole “leaving only a leg hanging down” which was grabbed by Mr Neilson.

Miss Baines said: “He (Mr Neilson) decided to remove the defendant’s shoes to slow down his escape.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He grabbed on to his feet. He did manage to pull the shoes off the defendant.

“He decided then the slow the defendant’s escape by removing his trousers and boxer shorts.”

Following his brisk disrobing Platten made it on to the roof, where “he was naked from his bottom”.

Baring all, he then moved to a neighbouring roof before putting a wire round his neck and threatening to jump, the court heard.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The court was told previously that commuters travelling into the city centre saw three police cars, two vans and a fire engine arrive at the scene at 8.30am.

Platten was stuck on the roof and had to be helped down by firefighters after a 40-minute stand-off, he was then arrested by police officers.

Platten, who initially said he had fallen down the hole in the roof, pleaded guilty to one count of burglary at a previous hearing.

The Honorary Recorder of Hull and East Riding Judge Michael Mettyear sentenced the burglar to 15 months in jail, less time already spent on remand.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Judge Mettyear told Platten that he had “a truly terrible record”, including offences of burglary, assault, resisting arrest and breaching court orders.

“You said this offence was designed to make money for you. You wanted to get in there to get those valuable bikes to make money. It is a miserable, miserable story,” said Judge Mettyear.

He added that it must have been a disturbing incident for Mr Neilson, who “was doing his very, very best to stop you”.

Paul Genney, defending, said: “He (Platten) thought that he was trying to seize his testicles and that put him in a lot of panic.”