Bungling thief Anthony Wayne Knighton then climbed over a wall at the Burn Road recycling centre, in Hartlepool, and was immediately nabbed by the awaiting police officers.

Drug addict Knighton told police he scaled the wall to get a wheel for his bike but took the opportunity to steal scrap metal while he was there.

Magistrates gave Knighton a community order for the offence, but warned him "this is your last chance".

Prosecutor Jacqui Edwards told Hartlepool magistrates: "Police officers were on patrol in Burn Road when a bag was thrown over the fence of the Burn Road recycling centre.

"They saw a male who climbed over the fence. The bag contained clothing and scrap metal items and Mr Knighton was arrested by the officers.

"He said he had been in the centre when it was closed and he had been there to steal a wheel for his bike and admitted taking metal items while he was there."

Knighton – who told Hartlepool magistrates he had cut his spending on heroin from £50 a day to £10 every three days – also stole a boiler from outside an empty house a week later.

The 33-year-old, who was already serving an 18-month community order for being found on an enclosed premises in May, pleaded guilty to stealing the boiler on the basis that he found it in an alley.

Knighton, of Wensleydale Street, Hartlepool, admitted theft on September 18, and theft by finding on September 25.

Adrian Morris, mitigating, said: "Mr Knighton purchases heroin once every three days. He used to be on £50 of heroin daily. It has diminished significantly.

"He is keen to better himself."

Monica Arthur, chairman of the magistrates' bench, sentenced Knighton to a six-month supervision order and told him: "I do not want to see you back before this court being re-sentenced for a breach of this. This is your last chance."

Bosses at Hartlepool Borough Council, who run the recycling centre, have warned they will not tolerate anyone trespassing on their properties for unlawful purposes.

A council spokesman told the Mail: "There is tight security at the Burn Road recycling centre and anyone stealing from the site runs the risk of being caught and prosecuted."