Ex-mayor admits stealing women's underwear
The odd Merseyside councillor has got into a spot of bother in the past, but this story from Lancashire would seem to be scraping new depths.
A former mayor today admitted breaking into women's homes and stealing their underwear.
Ian Stafford, 59, resigned as Mayor of Preesall in Lancashire when he was arrested in connection with the missing garments.
He today appeared at Preston Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary.
Walking with a cane, Stafford admitted breaking into the buildings in Poulton-le-Fylde and Stalmine, Lancashire, between January 1 and 26 June last year.
Female residents called in police after their underwear kept disappearing and one victim even installed a hidden camera in her bedroom.
Today the case was adjourned for pre-sentencing reports until February 5 when Stafford, of Sandycroft Place, Preesall, will reappear at the court.
His barrister Richard Haworth said he had no previous convictions.
Judge Philip Sycamore gave the part-time handyman and gardener bail but told him not to "draw any conclusions" from that about his sentence.
"All sentencing options are open," he said.
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David Bartlett
City editor of the Post and Echo covering politics, regeneration, and urban affairs.
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This guy needs help in so many ways. Does anyone, apart from the judge it seems, really think a spell in the slammer is the best way to deal with this?
There really is nothing that needs to be said once you see that picture.
Unlike Muppet fan, i think there is quite a lot to be said after seeing that picture.
My initial and kinder reaction is, possibly in tune with Ronnie, I thought the poor,poor man and felt a sense of sadness for him. Why? well primarily becuse..well he aint Brad Pitt and we are prone to jump to conclusions on peoples appearance. So, on that basis, I thought it is a bit cruel that this is picture and crime is featured in so many reports and the reality is, although there is a political dimension although I don't see anything about which party, it is probably more to do with the the tittilation and giggle factor of the "knicker nicker" But then you also have to consider other points. This man was Mayor, so unless it was the prize in a raffle it would suggest he has some nouse about him to get in that position and then you think well what was he like as mayor, he could have been a token mayor or he could have been a right so and so. The other factor, and probably more important, is that although there is the clear, if cruel amusement factor, he has been found guilty of breaking into women's bedrooms and stealing their underwear. Now some women may also laugh that off or they may be disgusted, but also some women may quite justifiably feel violated and vulnerable as a result of his actions and we have to be careful not to be too dismissive of what may seem a Carry-On style opportunity to laugh about his misfortune at getting knicked. In this kind of situation, we must consider what a direct confrontation could have led to. Would they have run like a scared rabbit or would they think, hell I will be exposed if I don't do something. We don't know the answer to that but because of the way this bloke looks, it is news that comes with a cheeky wink. I don't think a spell in the slammer is the answer, in the scheme of things but again i draw that conclusion from the picture, I don't know any personal background or if any psychiatric assessments have been done so perhaps the judge is considering some of these issues and an appropriate sentence to pass.