Chopper to nab boy who broke greenhouse window

May 26th, 2011 - 8:53 pm ICT by IANS  

London, May 26 (IANS) British Police sent a helicopter, a riot van and two patrol cars to trace a teenager who broke a greenhouse window playing football, a media report said Thursday.

Tom Clarke, 15, was having a kickabout with his cousin in a pub garden when the ball bobbled off his ankle and looped over a fence, The Sun reported.

He panicked when he heard glass smash and nipped inside, where dad Darrin was having a drink. Half an hour later the police arrived in force in an operation believed to have cost 2,500 pounds, the report said.

Tom was marched off to see the greenhouse owner and apologise for breaking the 40- pound pane.

Darrin, 42, then got a letter saying Tom had “accepted responsibility for criminal damage” - which could show up on checks if he applied to work with children.

Tom, of Chalgrove, Oxon, said: “I’m gutted as I was considering being a teacher but that may not happen now. I apologised and my dad offered to pay for the damage.”

Bus driver Darrin said: “Tom is a good lad who works hard. It’s extremely heavy-handed.” But greenhouse owner Bobby Cellar, 67, said: “I just wanted to see justice done.”

Police said the helicopter would not take off just to investigate criminal damage but was already in the area.

But the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “The tremendous expense is unjustified.”

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