Fare dodger nabbed by copper chopper A MAN has been fined for not paying his taxi fare and failing to answer bail after police scrambled a helicopter to help catch him.
John Wickens, 23, who lives in Hayes, Middlesex, was caught just after noon on Tuesday when police officers from the Safer Neighbourhood Team spotted him in Hemel Hempstead.
They recognised him from their list of wanted criminals, which they are briefed on every day.
Herts police spokesman Olivia Finucane said: “He clocked that they had seen him and started to run, and they started to pursue him.
“They radioed for help and we got a helicopter out.”
Mr Wickens appeared at Hatfield Magistrates Court yesterday.
He was fined £145 for failing to pay his £20 taxi fare in Hemel Hempstead on Tuesday, April 24, and not answering bail at Watford Police Station on Friday, May 4.
He also had to pay £20 compensation, £15 victim surcharge and £85 costs for the crime.
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