Parting was, indeed, such sweet sorrow for the young Montague, aged 18, who ended up in hospital with serious injuries after stepping on the plastic canopy above the house entrance, which gave way under his weight and sent him plunging to the pavement.

"The young man could have avoided such a risky undertaking if he had been aware his 'Juliet' was not at home on the fateful night," a police statement said.