Unmasked - the Caped Crusader who handed in wanted Cleethorpes man (video)

A MAN who became part of an internet hit after being handed into a police station by Batman is from Cleethorpes.

Pictures of Daniel Frayne and Stan Worby – who was dressed as the Caped Crusader – arriving at the station circulated worldwide on the web.

Holy superhero! Stan Worby, dressed as Batman, and Daniel Frayne, of Cleethorpes, pictured inside the Bradford police station. Submitted picture
TV spotlight: Stan Worby makes an appearance on ITV's Daybreak.
Just for fun: Stan with his costumed friends.

Their identities have only now been revealed because Frayne 27, of Aspen Court in Cleethorpes, has appeared before magistrates in Bradford, where he admitted trying to cash a stolen cheque he claims he found in the street.

The images show Mr Worby, 39, in the guise of the comic book hero, taking Frayne into a station in the city. He and Frayne, wearing a sports jacket, waited patiently at the front counter at Trafalgar House Police Station in the early hours of February 25.

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The pictures were released by West Yorkshire Police on its website and quickly went global – because no one knew Batman's true identity.

Officers from the Buttershaw area of Bradford told how the costumed crime-fighter marched Frayne into the station and "promptly vanished".

On the force's website, they posted: "We had a very strange occurrence at the police station when a male wanted for an offence on our area was 'escorted' into our helpdesk by Batman.

"Batman came into the helpdesk, stated to the staff 'I've caught this one for you' and then promptly vanished into the night to fight crime and the fear of crime in Bradford."

The post – branded as a "bizarre incident" – prompted much speculation on social networking sites and soon came to the attention of national and international media. Fancy dress shop owner Kathryn Sutcliffe told how she sold a Batman outfit to a man a couple of days before the incident.

She said: "Usually they want the Dark Knight costume but he wanted the one with the muscly chest. It's like the one Del Boy wears in Only Fools And Horses."

Once Mr Worby was unmasked, it was revealed the takeaway delivery driver had been to see Bradford City play at Wembley when he received a phone call from his old friend Frayne, asking for a lift to the police station because he was wanted for questioning.

It was apparently the first time he had ever worn a fancy dress costume.

Mr Worby, a grandfather-of-four who lives in Bradford, told national media: "I got the call at about 1am and went straight down, dropped the minibus off and picked my car up. I didn't even bother getting changed.

"It was a joke between me and him. I was shocked – I didn't expect all of this at the end of the day."

He even appeared on Daybreak, but has now hung up his cape for good because of the unwanted attention.

It is understood that Frayne used to live in Yorkshire before moving to Cleethorpes, and that is how they know each other.

At Bradford Magistrates' Court, Frayne admitted handling a stolen cheque and supplying a cheque with intent to commit fraud.

As reported on www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk over the weekend, the case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports and he will next appear on April 8.

Mr Worby attended the court hearing with his friend, but was not dressed in a costume. When asked to make a comment to the media, he made rude gestures and swore, and then left the court.

ON THE WEB: Visit www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk to view a video of Mr Worby unmasked.