'Bike thief' body found in Plymouth harbour Published duration 12 October 2014

image caption The man became trapped between a disused fishing vessel and the harbour wall

The body of a suspected bicycle thief who fled from police has been recovered from Sutton Harbour in Plymouth.

The man jumped into the water close to The China House pub at about 06:30 BST, but he became trapped between a disused trawler and the harbour wall.

Royal Navy divers recovered the man's body, said a Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman.

The incident has been referred to watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

media caption A suspected bicycle thief has drowned after jumping into a harbour while fleeing police, as John Henderson reports

image caption Navy divers joined police and RNLI in the search for a man seen jumping into the water

image caption Part of Sutton Harbour has been cordoned off while investigations continue

image caption An RNLI crew helped navy divers search Sutton Harbour

image caption Sutton Harbour on Plymouth's waterfront has been the centre of emergency service activity

Police said they were called to reports of the theft of a bicycle from Citadel Road East in Plymouth at 06:10 BST.

They saw a man but he fled from the scene. Officers followed him to Sutton Wharf, where he jumped into the water.

Two lifeboats and a fire service water rescue team were unable to reach the man and a navy team was called in.

The man's name has not yet been revealed.

Harbour resident John O'Toole said police had tried to move the trawler away from the wall.

"I said, 'you'll never budge that trawler'. It's been here as long as I have, which is since 2007.

"It never floats, even at high tide."

Lynne Yelland, who also lives nearby, said: "It's so sad.