DIY SOS thief caught out by tracking tag on cement mixer

A 25-year-old man who stole machinery from a building site, where a team of people from BBC show DIY SOS were racing to complete a life-changing renovation, has been ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

David Matthew Pugh, from Llainwen Isaf in Llanberis, Gwynedd, admitted to taking a cement mixer and two wheelbarrows in the middle of the night on 5 December.

A tracking tag on the mixer meant police were able to locate it in a garage at his home two days later.

Pugh claimed he had been out drinking and came across the equipment on his way home and was "extremely embarrassed", Caernarfon Magistrates' Court heard.

Natalee Hughes-Jones, prosecuting, said the BBC One programme was carrying out a renovation at a property in Yankee Street, Llanberis, in early December.

She said the hired equipment had been left outside "with surveillance", when the theft happened.

The hire company received a report from the tracker on 7 December, locating the mixer in a garage at Pugh's home, she said.

Simon Sargent, defending, said Pugh had been out drinking and was on his way home when he noticed the mixer and the wheelbarrows by the side of the road.

"At no time was he aware the equipment was being used by the DIY SOS programme," the solicitor told the court.

"He pushed them home, a decision he deeply regrets.

"The public perceive he deliberately targeted DIY SOS, which isn't the case, and he's extremely embarrassed and apologises unreservedly."

Sargent said his client was sorry, adding that the mixer and wheelbarrows were returned undamaged.

But Mike Watling from the Probation Service told the court he was not sure this was an opportunistic theft.

"The route past this house was a long way home," he said. "I don't believe his version of events - perhaps he was aware the equipment was there?

"There's much more to this than he's admitted to."

Magistrates gave Pugh an 18-month community order, under which he must do 200 hours unpaid work, take part in 10 days of rehabilitation training and wear an alcohol tag for 60 days.

He must also pay £85 costs and £114 surcharge.