Crime-busting boy, 10, helps convict thief by snapping him red-handed on phone and posting picture on Twitter

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated:

A boy aged has been praised after he helped catch a thief by snapping a picture of the crook on his phone and uploading it on to the social micro blogging website Twitter.

Jobless thief Craig Royal, 24, robbed a pedestrian for their iPhone and made off on his bike in Darlington, County Durham.

Shocked schoolboy Alex Wilson witnessed the crime as he passed in a car with his father and sprang into action, taking a photo of Royal on his own phone.

Quick thinking: Alex Wilson took a picture of thief Craig Royal on his iPhone and uploaded it to Twitter to help convict the robber

Quick thinking: Alex Wilson took a picture of thief Craig Royal on his iPhone and uploaded it to Twitter to help convict the robber

When he returned home Alex posted the photograph on Twitter with the caption: 'This  idiot just robbed someone on Yarm Road about 20 mins ago.' 

The image was then picked up by the police, who were able to identify Royal and make the arrest.

Royal, of Darlington, was convicted of the theft at Darlington Magistrates' Court on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to the offence.

Red handed: This is the picture Alex took that helped police track down Royal, who had just pinched a mobile phone from a pedestrian

Red handed: This is the picture Alex took that helped police track down Royal, who had just pinched a mobile phone from a pedestrian

Police said the conviction would not have been possible without the help of Alex.

After the hearing, Inspector Mark Hall of Darlington Police, said: 'This young boy was a key witness whose quick thinking and public spiritedness enabled us to quickly identify and arrest the suspect.'

Alex's mother, Mel Wilson, said she and her husband were extremely proud of their son's actions.

She said: 'He was really repulsed when he saw the robbery, so he was very pleased when he caught him on camera.

'When he found out they had caught the guy, he was really quite chuffed.' 

At the hearing, David Maddison, prosecuting, said the incident had happened in the late afternoon on September 10.

The victim was walking along Yarm Road, in the town, when Royal snatched his  Apple iPhone from his hands.

Alex and his father, Dylan, were passing in a car as the drama unfolded.

Stephen Andrews, defending, said Royal had argued with his partner and  turned to alcohol on the day of the crime.

The court heard that his brother had died in a road accident several years ago,  which had caused him to go 'off the rails' and he was later diagnosed with severe epilepsy.

Mr Andrews said that when combined with the medication for his illness, the alcohol he consumed on the day of the robbery had caused him to 'not think straight'.

'He was on his way home, he had seen someone with a telephone, and he had simply snatched it without thinking,' Mr Andrews said.

'Moments later he threw it to the floor and smashed it.' 

Judge Andrew Pascoe asked: 'What was going through your mind? This was a most  stupid act.' 

Royal was given a 12-month conditional discharge with a £50 fine and £85 costs.

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