In his hand-written note, Paul explained why he had gone to such lengths to return the handbag.

To the owner of the handbag I found tonight and purse, also mobile phone, [I] tried to turn the phone on to find out the name of the girl so I could return. [I] did not want to tell anyone in town because they would of tried to blag me saying it's one of [their] friends, can't trust anyone in town and [I] was worried in case anybody thought I was keeping it.

I don't steal. I am a honest man now and have been for a number of years.

Now I am relieved that I made it back to the hostel with the girl's belongings, so in the morning I can do some investigations to locate the true owner of the handbag and other belongings inside [the] bag. Because this is the second handbag I've found now on Bradshawgate on a weekend in the space of approximately around three months and tomorrow I want to locate the true owner and personally hand her all her belongings back.

Because I am an honest person now, because to me it feels so good to do the right thing and there is money in [the] purse and I have not taken a penny.