AN INCOMPETENT thief from Highbridge found himself with a starring role in his own cops and robbers movie, prompting Somer-set Waste Partnership (SWP) to warn crooks to stay away from recycling sites.

Leslie Paul Ash put on a mask before going into a recycling site late at night.

Unfortunately for him, he donned the mask directly in front of a surveillance camera, was spotted by SWP staff, and the police saw through his disguise.

Ash, 39, of Talbot Close, Highbridge, admitted two charges of theft at Taunton Magistrates’ Court last Thursday, and asked for several other offences to be taken into consideration.

The items taken from Highbridge recycling centre included batteries, computers and angling equipment.

Ash was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay £100 compensation to recycling site operator Viridor with £40 costs and £60 victim surcharge.

As Ash became the second criminal convicted within weeks of a recycling site offence with the help of CCTV, SWP warned thieves to stay away from its recycling sites.

In August, Ricky Styles, 43, of North Street, Bridgwater, admitted at Taunton magistrates a Vagrancy Act offence of being in an enclosed yard for the purpose of theft.

Spotted on camera at night in a skip at Bridgwater recycling centre, Styles was arrested by police and received a 12-month conditional discharge with £85 costs and £15 victim surcharge.

A SWP spokesperson said: “There are no Oscars awarded for thieves. Instead, anyone committing a crime at a recycling centre can expect to be caught.”