Police find thief hiding in a dog kennel

Martin Hoyland (37) took the telephone from a desk at Rotherham General Hospital last Tuesday.

When police inquiries identified him as the culprit and officers went to his home in Reynolds Close, Flanderwell, Hoyland did not appear to be there.

But when they called the stolen phone, they heard it ringing in a kennel nearby and tracked down the thief.

Hoyland, who was also carrying a quantity of opiate replacement Subute, told police he “wasn’t thinking straight” on the day he committed the theft, adding that he was “desperate for money”.

Rotherham Magistrates’ Court heard last Thursday that Hoyland had recently been released from prison when he stole the phone.

He admitted guilt as soon as he was caught and co-operated fully with police, but was “at a loss” to explain why he was in the hospital.

District Judge Mr Jonathan Taaffe described the crime as “an extremely serious case”.

He added: “This court will protect members of the public doing their duty, who shouldn’t have to put up with things being stolen from their office.”

Hoyland was remanded on bail and under curfew.

He will appear again on March 6 to be sentenced for theft and possession of a Class C drug.