Haribo sweets packet helps catch naked runner who disturbed female joggers

'It must have been very alarming for these women to have a stranger jump out at them while they were simply out enjoying a run'

The man struck by the Wear River in Durham (iStock)

A man who disturbed female joggers by running naked next to them has been arrested after being tracked by an empty sweet packet.

Since April, several women of various ages have reported seeing a naked man by the River Wear near Durham Rowing Club, who would run alongside his victims wearing nothing but a pair of running shoes.

After carrying out a series of operations, including using undercover female officers posing as joggers in an attempt to lure out the man, police eventually found a secluded spot on a railway bridge where they believed the man hid while watching his victims approach.

Here the police found an empty packet of Haribo sweets they believe the man ate, along with a receipt, allowing them to determine exactly when and where he bought the sweets.

Using this information they checked CCTV footage from a local shop, from which victims could identify the man, enabling officers to make an arrest.

The 18-year-old man admitted several offences and has been admitted to Checkpoint, a four-month intervention programme that looks at "underlying issues" of criminals' behaviour in an attempt to stop them reoffending.

The system is unique to Durham and offers people a chance to avoid a criminal conviction, but only if they admit their guilt and complete the programme.

Sergeant Kay Howarth, of Durham City Police, said: "This was quite an unusual case because the riverside in Durham is usually such a safe place and is visited by families all the time, which made us all the more determined to catch him.

"It must have been very alarming for these women to have a stranger jump out at them while they were simply out enjoying a run.

"We would like to thank all those who rang in to report this man and for all those local runners who helped with our investigation.

"Our officers were determined to find this man and we will continue to work to make sure Durham is a safe place for everyone."