A CYCLING thief whose bid to escape armed police was foiled by four cans of Stella has been jailed for a year.
Adam Hall was caught on video desperately pedalling away from cops armed with semi-automatic rifles.
But his bid to escape justice ended dramatically when passer-by Ben McGill swung at him with a plastic bag containing four cans of Stella Artois.
Hall, 24, from Peterlee, County Durham, crashed off his bike and was promptly tasered and arrested by pursuing officers.
It has now emerged that Hall appeared at the town’s magistrate’s court the following day, February 15, and was jailed for 12 months after admitting a string of charges, including theft.
Ben, 31, posted his footage of the arrest to social media with the caption: “Didn’t expect me to be there with my bag of cans hahaha.”
The clip begins with a view of the pedestrianised walkway next to shops and the entrance to Castle Dene shopping centre in Peterlee town centre.
A man in a blue top can be seen racing down the walkway on his bike.
As he approaches Ben filming, a voice can be heard saying: “Do you want me to grab him?”
The man cycles right into the direction of the camera, with a collision heard but not clearly seen.
The bag can then be seen lifted up to the camera, where there is a visible tear.
The cyclist is then seen on the ground next to the shopping centre entrance, with three armed police restraining him.
There is the sound of a taser and two more officers charge in.
Hall admitted theft from a shop, two counts of receiving stolen goods, using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, and criminal damage to property.
As well as jail, he was ordered to undertake 80 hours of unpaid work, pay £170 in costs, and £45 compensation.
passer-by Ben McGill swung at him with a plastic bag containing four cans of Stella Artois.
Speaking about the incident at the time, Ben said: “The guy came down on his bike and the copper was struggling to get his taser out on time, so I said to him, and you can hear it on camera: ‘Do you want me to grab him?’”
“I swung the bag of cans at him and it just clipped him so he went into the railings and down.”
Ben also revealed that he had had his own run-ins with the police in the past but was now reformed and happy to do his bit to help.
Facebook users heartily approved of Ben’s actions and use of his bag of beer.
Martin Webster wrote: “Not all heroes wear capes. They carry cans. Good effort, fella.”
Anthony Murphy said: “Big bag of cans to the rescue.”
Tom Pickup commented: “Never underestimate the power of the tinny.”
Declan Cooper added: “Hopefully this will end the stigma of kicking up the high Street with a big of tinnies.”
