A prolific burglar broke into a M&S store to steal £500 of sirloin and T-bone steak as well as 20 bottles of prosecco and was caught in the act and arrested by two detectives from a private policing company.
Prior to this, David Hanson, 44, had 105 previous convictions including 33 burglaries to his name and record.
Now, he has become the first person to be jailed in a private prosecution.
How He Was Caught
The store manager called police immediately after catching Hanson stealing on CCTV but despite the footage, the Met Police decided not to investigate.
Instead, the case was taken on my TM Eye – a private investigator company which was founded by former Scotland Yard chief detective David McKelvey.
READ ALSO: Kim Jong-Un becomes TikTok star as he GOES viral with propaganda song
The firm, which uses plain clothed officers and those in uniform, has already helped prosecute 280 shoplifters, however, the south London case marks the first time a prosecution has been made against a thief.
He was sentenced to one-year prison time for a total of five offences. These included four burglaries and one assault on an M&S employee.