THIEF John Ambrose went along to watch a friend fishing but ended hooking up a stolen pump to his car.
Magistrates at Bury heard how Ambrose, 38, spotted the pump, valued at £10,600, next to Starling Reservoir in Radcliffe and attached it to his four wheel drive and drove off.
Prosecuting, Mr Jonathan Savage described how a patrolling police officer became suspicious and followed his vehicle.
A chase then followed through the Little Lever area with Ambrose eventually turning into Leverhulme Park in Bolton.
Later, when questioned by police, Ambrose, of Hollycroft Avenue, Darcy Lever, who pleaded guilty to theft, admitted taking the pump in an "opportunistic" moment.
The magistrates were told that when the pump was eventually returned to its true owners, which cost them nearly £369 in recovery costs, they found that £350 worth of damage had been caused.
Ambrose was given 90 hours community service and ordered to pay compensation of £365.
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