A YOUNG super sleuth who appeared in the Telegraph & Argus at the age of nine after helping to recover his mum’s stolen car, has now graduated with a degree in policing, criminology and investigation.

Now aged 22, David Metcalfe, who got a second class honours degree at the University of Cumbria, is back home in Idle to pursue his dream career of becoming a police detective.

It was his proud grandma Lynda Boylin, of Laisterdyke, who got back in touch with the T&A.

“Growing up to be a policeman was all he used to talk about,” she said.

“I thought he might grow out of it when he got older but he’s stuck with it.”

David, who has got a temporary job working at a well-known freezer food shop to earn some quick summer money, has not solved any more crimes since he tracked down his mum’s car more than one decade ago but he is on the look-out.

“I’m still fascinated by solving crime but I haven’t had any other cases since my mum’s car,” he said.

When aged nine he was living with his mum Lisa Tordoff in Holme Wood and was woken one night in October 2004 after hearing banging downstairs.

He woke his mum but by the time they got downstairs thieves had snatched the keys to the family’s blue Ford Escort, as well as cash and shopping vouchers which were meant to buy Christmas presents.

Later that day, as his aunt was driving him to St Clare’s Catholic Primary School in Fagley, he spotted the family’s car by its registration plate.

They reported it to police and an officer took him back to Gain Lane where he had seen it and the car was recovered and returned to its grateful mum.

At the time, David told a T&A reporter: “I have always wanted to be a policeman. I want to be one when I grow up so I can catch bad people.”

All grown up now, he added: “I’m as keen now as I was when I was nine, the only difference is I’m a bit taller and have a degree in how to be a super sleuth!"