A convenience store worker who stole £19,000 from his employer has been jailed after his pronounced limp gave him away on CCTV footage.
Tajinderpal Singh, 48, of Beaconsfield Road, Southall, was arrested in Heathrow Airport within hours of the burglary after he tried to flee to Delhi.
Police were called to the store in Saxon Avenue, Feltham, on the morning of January 28 when staff realised it had been broken into and cash was stolen.
Isleworth Crown Court heard Singh was identified in CCTV by the shop owner, despite his face being covered, as his limp was evident in the footage.
Investigators discovered Singh, who only began working at the shop a few weeks before, was booked onto a flight to Delhi the same night on a one-way ticket.
Officers rushed to Heathrow Airport just as Singh was due to board the plane and he was arrested.
Singh pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
Detective Constable Darren Young said: “This was an extremely fast-moving investigation.
“After being initially called to the burglary we then managed to confirm the identity of the suspect and within 12 hours he was arrested as he was due to board a plane to India on a one-way ticket."
