A teenager who led the police on a two-hour chase beside a busy rail line has appeared in court.
The 16-year-old from Wembley was finally caught just after 5pm on Wednesday last week (06) and yesterday (Tuesday) received a 12-month probation order at HarrowYouth Court, following his guilty plea
After calls from residents in Princes Drive, Wealdstone, at around 3.30pm, van loads of officers, a helicopter and a dog unit were sent in search of the teenager.
Neighbours witnessed him attempting to break into a derelict house with a garden fork.
The property had been vacant since the owner died and had been cleared out hours earlier by her daughter.
The woman, who asked not to be named, said: "Fortunately there was nothing there to be stolen because we'd got rid of the last few bits that morning.
"All that was left was an old kettle and a piano and to be honest he probably would have been doing us a favour if he took them."
When police were called about the break-in they were led a merry dance as residents and tube workers witnessed him escape over the back fence and onto the railway line.
He was finally discovered nearly two hours later in a garage in Princes Drive - drinking the owner's beer.
The householder, who asked not to be named, said: "I was just watching the television when all of a sudden there were about 10 policemen in my garden.
"They dragged him through my hall. He was crying and looking to the ground. He just looked embarrassed and ashamed.
"Afterwards we went to the garage where he had been hiding and found he had drunk a couple of my son's beers.
"Maybe he felt he needed something to calm him down."
On Tuesday the teen pleaded guilty to two charges of burglary.
During the chase residents from across Wealdstone gathered by the junction of Hailsham Drive and Princes Drive to watch the drama unfold.
Shazeer Abdoullah, 26, of Cecil Road, said: "It was quite scary. The police weren't telling us anything and people tend to assume the worst when there are helicopters and a load of police.
"As far as we knew there was an axe-wielding rapist on the loose who'd escaped Harrow Crown Court."