A MOMENT'S stupidity drove block paver Vincent Leparvlo to try and steal from an Ipswich firm on April Fool's Day, a court heard.The 34-year-old Ipswich man appeared before the town's magistrates where he admitted attempted theft of timber from Anglo Norden Limited.

By Amanda Cresswell

A MOMENT'S stupidity drove block paver Vincent Leparvlo to try and steal from an Ipswich firm on April Fool's Day, a court heard.

The 34-year-old Ipswich man appeared before the town's magistrates where he admitted attempted theft of timber from Anglo Norden Limited.

A householder saw him acting suspiciously in the yard with two other men fled when police arrived, said Ian Pells, prosecuting.

Leparvlo of Gorse Road was interviewed by police and admitted going to the yard with the intention of stealing timber. However, he changed his mind after moving the timber about.

Self-employed Leparvlo, who is currently on family credit, told magistrates: "It was a stupid lapse of concentration. For ten minutes my brain clicked off. Then I thought this is stupid."

Chairman of the bench Judith Palmer gave Leparvlo a year's conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £55 costs.

Also appearing with him in court was John Hume, 33, of Defoe Road and Craig Wardley, 25, of Hillside Crescent, also from Ipswich.

Both men denied attempted theft and a trial date was fixed for May 9 at the Elm Street courthouse in Ipswich.