Family’s pram was stolen at Peak attraction

A thief snatched a family’s pram while they were enjoying an activity at Matlock Bath’s Heights of Abraham tourist attraction.
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Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Monday, March 3, how thief David Haines, 41, swapped his broken pram for the expensive Quinny Buzz Stroller.

Prosecuting solicitor Angela Hadfield said: “Haines and his partner attended the Heights of Abraham and they had a pushchair. Heights of Abraham has activities and one requires you to leave any pushchairs outside.

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“The Quinny Buzz pushchair had been left outside by a family and the defendant was observing the area and he swapped the cheap pushchair with the expensive one and walked out of the grounds with it.

“His partner had gone to make a purchase and that’s how Haines was traced by the use of a bank card and there was also clear CCTV footage.”

Haines, of Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to theft after the incident on August 3. Defence solicitor Dean Bower said Haines accepts he took the pushchair but he only intended to borrow it and he returned it later and travelled back to Matlock Bath from Nottingham in an attempt to return it but the park was closed.

Mr Bower said: “It was not planned and it was not sophisticated and he acted alone.

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“The pushchair he had, had broken that morning and he and his partner were having difficulties.

“They had planned on going to Chatsworth for a long walk and he made a very bad decision and he regrets it considerably.”

The court also heard how Haines has a problem with his spine and cannot work and is dependent on benefits.

Magistrates fined Haines £84 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.