A man who burgled a farm without stealing anything was snared walking away from the scene by police.
Although the man initially told officers he was looking for a toilet and drink at the farm's outbuildings, it was later found that he matched a description of the suspect given by the farmer.
Mark Patterson, 42, of Dykes End, Collingham, was found guilty of burglary with intent to steal on Wednesday, April 15.
He was given an eight-week suspended sentence.
Police were called on Monday evening, April 13, to a report of a suspicious man on a farmer's property in Eakring, a village in the Newark and Sherwood district of the county.
The man was reportedly looking around sheds, trying the doors of the sheds and walking around the site.
The caller said he spoke with the suspicious man, who claimed he'd been walking back from Mansfield and was looking for a toilet.
Officers spotted a figure stood on the opposite side of the road flashing a red light.
The man told officers he'd been in Mansfield and was walking home to Collingham - a considerable distance to walk.
After CCTV footage was checked, Patterson was arrested on suspicion of burglary and taken to Mansfield Police Station.
In custody he was searched but nothing had been stolen.
Police Constable Daniel Gray, of Nottinghamshire Police, who led the investigation, said: "This was good and quick work by our rural officers.
"We are pleased that this burglar - who is well known in the rural community - has been convicted."
