Man stole pounds 50,000 of knickers

A THIEF who amassed pounds 50,000 of lingerie was caught when neighbours saw him stealing pants from their clothesline, a court was told yesterday.

Nadarajah Jeyakumar, 38 - who had spent four years building up his collection - was spotted holding several pairs of white knickers. Police then found 11 sacks of assorted female undergarments at his home. In evidence Jeyakumar insisted they had been left by a couple of former girlfriends. But Peter Nugent, for the prosecution, told London's Brent Magistrates Court: "He has a thing about ladies underwear."

The court heard six days before the incident last June, Jeyakumar had been convicted of six counts of theft of lingerie.

Alex Krikler, for the defence, said Jeyakumar suffered post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of being tortured in his native Sri Lanka and needed help, not punishment. Magistrate Brian Block said it was clear "the best help available is from the probation service" and placed Jeyakumar on two years' probation.