CHURAK'S PALACE

[Churak]

British judge loses patience with thief he labelled too stupid to jail


LONDON (AFP) - A British judge issued an arrest warrant for a car thief he had effectively labelled too stupid to jail after finally losing patience with the man.




In January, Judge Paul Dodgson admitted that he was unlikely to imprison Mohammed Zaman because his crime -- stealing a car and then driving it directly to a police station to confess -- was too unusual and idiotic.


"You have committed an offence for which, even with your record, you stand a reasonable chance of staying out of prison, because it is an odd offence," Dodgson told the 22-year-old, calling the crime "a little bizarre".


Adjourning the case for four weeks for sentencing, and allowing Zaman bail in the meantime, the judge added: "Frankly you are an idiot and I hope you realise that."


"I do," mumbled the hapless thief in response.


However, Zaman failed to show up for Wednesday's sentencing at London's Southwark Crown Court and after waiting for an hour and a half, Dodgson issued an arrest warrant permitting no bail.


The defendant lived so close that he "could have walked here by now", the judge noted.