Burglar found in kayak trying to flee to France
A burglar in the UK was jailed after being found in a kayak on the English Channel attempting to paddle to France.
Paul Redford was wanted for several thefts when he was discovered by a lifeboat while he was trying to make his way to France to escape the police, but he was wearing just a child's life jacket for safety, a court heard.
''He told the crew he had stolen it from a house in Camber. He said he was wanted by the police for a number of years and was going to get to France.''
Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said: ''The defendant was found a mile out to sea in the canoe and he was recovered by the lifeboat.
''He told the crew he had stolen it from a house in Camber. He said he was wanted by the police for a number of years and was going to get to France.''
However, James Fenny, defending, claimed the 46-year-old man - who has 27 previous convictions for 83 offences - was just trying to start a new life rather than flee from the justice system.
He said: ''He gets into the boat and rather foolishly he sets out to start anew.''
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