An offender who punched a cardboard police officer has escaped punishment because the real life officers took half a year to put him before the courts.

Prosecuting, Sam Law said Benjamin Thomas Watson, 20, hit the full-size imitation officer at TK Maxx's Monks Cross store on April 16 and caused £100 damage.

York Magistrates Court heard he was identified from CCTV on May 29, but wasn't arrested until September 29.

Mrs Law said she had no explanation for the delay.

Watson's solicitor Vicky Latham said police could have easily found where Watson was during the delay because he had been on remand at Hull Prison. He was later released on a suspended sentence.

Watson, of Robinson Court, York, pleaded guilty and was given an absolute discharge.

District judge Adrian Lower said he took into account the delay when deciding sentence, saying it had been due to "some unacceptable reason".

He also heard that Watson is due to appear for sentence at York Crown Court next week for a more serious offence.

The cardboard PCs are used by Safer York Partnership to deter shoplifters.