A THIEF who tried to steal £14,000 from a cash machine using a screwdriver and a crowbar has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Paul Gabriel, of Empress Avenue in Ilford, attempted to cover up his crime by placing a bag of rubbish in front of a nearby CCTV camera – but he failed to notice another one pointing right at him.

He also accidentally triggered the ATM's silent alarm and was promptly caught by British Transport Police who arrived at the scene within minutes.

Gabriel, a 41-year-old builder, pleaded not guilty to the attempted theft, which happened in the early hours of Tuesday, February 16 at Hendon Station in north London, but he was convicted by a jury at the Old Bailey this week.

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Karina Ghersinich said Gabriel had been found with a screwdriver in his pocket when police confronted him.

She said: “The reason he gave for having it on him was that he had just finished work and was on his way home.

“This was a pretty feeble excuse, made all the less believable by the fact that he was seen walking away from the machine and was the only person in the area at the time.”

She added: “This was an incredibly badly planned crime that has landed the offender with a lengthy and welcome jail term.”