A PICKPOCKET who was caught stealing a purse from a passenger’s bag on a train has been jailed following a British Transport Police investigation.

Two days after the offence Wayne Woodburn, aged 44, of Orchard Road, Arnside, Cumbria robbed the cash register of a train buffet carriage and was apprehended by an off duty police officer travelling on the service.

Woodburn, who pleaded guilty to both offences, was sentenced at Kendal Magistrates Court on Monday, 1 August.

The court heard how on Thursday, 28 July, Woodburn was seen to open the bag of a passenger on a train at Windermere, and remove her purse.

A witness reported the incident to the train guard who contacted British Transport Police and held the train. An officer boarded the service and arrested Woodburn. The purse was recovered nearby and returned to the owner.

Two days later on Saturday, 30 July, an off duty Lancashire Constabulary officer travelling on a Virgin trains service from Carlisle to Lancaster responded to a tannoy announcement from the conductor for police to attend the buffet carriage.

It emerged that the conductor had caught Woodburn red handed taking money from the till in the on board shop. When Woodburn realised he had been seen he threw some of the cash back before attempting to make a run for it when the train reached Lancaster but was arrested and detained at the station.

Woodburn was jailed for 120 days for stealing the purse and 120 days for the theft of cash from the buffet carriage, to run concurrently. He was also sentenced to 160 days for a separate charge of burglary to run consecutively.

PC Adam Heslop from British Transport Police said: “Pickpockets like Woodburn target the unsuspecting passenger, particularly at busy times when people can be easily distracted. Thankfully, in this instance, Woodburn was caught in the act and reported immediately which meant that the victim’s purse could be returned.

“To strike again two days later and steal from a train shop was an audacious move and ultimately helped secure a custodial sentence.

“I would urge all passengers to remain vigilant and keep an eye on their belongings while travelling on the rail network. While most instances of theft are opportunistic, pickpockets will always have their eye on the next target.

“Hopefully Woodburn’s sentence will make him think twice about stealing other people’s property in the future.”