A teenager is in a critical condition in hospital after suffering severe burns, believed to be caused by an electric shock he received while trying to steal copper cables from an electrical substation. 

The 17-year-old boy, from Epsom, received the injuries on Friday, June 7, which Sussex Police believe he sustained in relation to the theft of copper from an electrical substation, which is part of an electrical generation, transmission and distribution system, at Bilsham Road, in Yapton, near Bognor Regis.

A fire officer was flagged down on the A259 at Littlehampton at 5.30pm by a motorist who was with the boy, who had burns to his torso, back and arms.

He was taken to the special burns unit at Chelmsford Hospital, in Essex, where he is in a critical but stable condition.

Detective Sergeant Sally Arbuckle said: "This young boy has suffered horrific injuries in what we believe is an attempt to steal cables from electrical substation.

"Substations are extremely dangerous places and should never be entered."

Anyone with information or who saw someone near the substation should call Sussex Police on 101 quoting the serial number 1192 of 7/6.