Plot thickens as wrong lifebelt is returned

3:47pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

A stolen lifebelt was returned by police, only to discover it was a case of mistaken identity.

Geoff Willis of Halstead conservation group reported an orange lifebelt missing from nature area Coggeshall Pieces, Halstead, before he went on holiday.

Mr Willis was concerned someone may drown in one of the area's three ponds, and was reluctant to replace it to the tune of £100.

On returning, Mr Willis had a letter from police based at Sible Hedingham saying the lifebelt was found near the village's Premdor site.

However, he later found the original lifebelt had been returned, the day after the Halstead Gazette printed the story, leaving him with one lifebelt too many.

Mr Willis said: "Who would have thought it? Two lifebelts pinched. Someone had snuck it back either because they had a pang of conscience or because they were fearful the police were on the trail."

PCSO Mark Ling, at Sible Hedingham police, said he had delivered the letter telling Mr Willis the first lifebelt had been found, but could not comment on who else was missing a lifebelt.