A MAN who tried the door handle of a car parked on a driveway in Ilminster got his come-uppance when the owner managed to take a photograph of him after he left the scene.

The victim was inside his home when he saw Ricky Lee Thompson trying to push open the gates to his driveway.

He then saw the defendant pulling on the door handle of his Nissan Qashqai, but when it would not open he left.

The owner jumped into his car to try and locate the culprit and when he found him managed to take several snapshots of the defendant as he tried to hitch a lift and he was later arrested.

Thompson, 23, of East Road, Bridport, pleaded not guilty to an allegation of vehicle interference at Ilminster on July 12 but was convicted in his absence of the offence following a trial before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil.

When he was brought back before the court in custody his solicitor Ray Peters said his client still protested his innocence.

Prosecutor Christine Hart said that the complainant was at his home in Ilminster at 10am when he saw Thompson trying to push open his gates and then saw him go towards his Nissan vehicle.

“The defendant peered through the rear passenger window and pulled on the door handle but, unsuccessful, he left and the complainant went to try and locate him in his car.

“He found Thompson trying to hitch a lift and when he tried to open the passenger door the complainant took two photographs of him while he was walking away.

“When he was arrested and interviewed he said he had been out at a party and was walking back to Ilminster and looking in some vehicles but denied touching it to look inside.”

Thompson claimed the complainant was trying to run him over which was why he ran away from him.

Mr Peters said Thompson did not attend the trial hearing due to a mix-up over dates but had voluntarily surrendered to the court once he realised a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

“Taken at its highest this is a case where he tried a door handle and did not gain entry and then walked away with no damage caused,” he said.

“He has not worked for some time, and since his recent release from custody he has had no income but has now been told his benefits have been put in place.”

The magistrates fined Thompson £150 and ordered him to pay £100 towards costs, a £520 court charge and a £20 victim surcharge.