Due in court today

A man has been charged over the theft of Bill Bailey's tour bus.

Francis Whittaker will appear in court today, accused of taking the Mercedes Sprinter Splitter van from the car park of the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall where Bailey was appearing on October 26.

The 35-year-old is also charged with the theft of another vehicle, a silver Vauxhall Vivaro, from outside the Hilton Hotel in August.

He was charged yesterday and remanded in custody overnight to appear before magistrates in Liverpool today. Whittaker, from the West Derby area of the city, also faces another charge of driving while disqualified.

At the time of the theft, Bailey tweeted: 'Lively crowd @liverpoolphil last night - shame our tour bus was nicked from outside the venue! So gig not too bad all things considered…'

The comic also said two laptops and car keys were stolen from a production room in the hall, where he was performing his stand-up show Limboland.

The tour begins a run in London's West End next week.

Published: 4 Dec 2015