A MAN who claimed to be fixing a car for strangers in the middle of the night has been jailed for attempting to steal an exhaust pipe in Friern Barnet.

Ryan Pethers, 24, from Waltham Forest was spotted in the car park at the Alfa Romeo dealership in Colney Hatch Lane by nearby CCTV at around 4am.

The police found him underneath a Citroen van in the process of removing its exhaust pipe.

When questioned Pethers said two men had offered him between £20 and £30 if he could re-attach the exhaust after it had fallen off.

However, Pethers failed to convince the officers and was arrested and charged with theft.

He was found guilty at Wood Green Crown Court yesterday and has been sentenced to twenty one days in prison.