Pictured: Car thief jailed after being caught hiding inside giant teddy bear

A car thief who tried to evade being caught by hiding inside a giant teddy bear has been jailed for nine months.

Joshua Dobson, 18, was being hunted by police last month when he decided to climb into a roughly five-foot stuffed bear after making a hole in it.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police rumbled the disguise when searching for him at an address in Rochdale, noticing that the bear in the corner of a room was "breathing".

Dobson, from Rochdale, was jailed for nine months last week for theft of a motor vehicle, driving while disqualified and leaving a petrol station without paying for fuel.

A spokesman for the force said: "A wanted car thief who tried using a teddy bear to hide from our neighbourhood cops out looking for him last month has been put behind bars for nine months.

"Joshua Dobson (18), from the Spotland area of the town, was sought by us after stealing a car in May and not paying for fuel that same day.

"When we went to arrest him, our officers noticed a large bear breathing in the address before finding Dobson hidden inside!

"He's now stuffed behind bars after being sentenced last week for theft of a motor vehicle, driving while disqualified, and making off from a petrol station without payment.

"Hopefully he has a bearable time inside..."