Jail term for prolific Nottingham bike thief

A bike thief from Nottingham who targeted expensive bikes which he sold on for a fraction of their value has been jailed for 50 weeks.

Stephen Brecknock, aged 31, used tools including bolt-croppers and pliers to carry out a string of thefts in the East Midlands city, reports the Nottingham Post.

He stole bikes from locations including the city’s railway station before police arrested him in August last year, Nottingham Magistrates’ Court heard.

He was stopped after an officer saw him riding past on a bicycle that was different to one he had seen Brecknock on earlier the same day.

He pleaded guilty to charges including five counts of bike theft and three of going equipped to steal.

In mitigation, James Buckley urged that a suspended prison sentence so Brecknock could get help for his drugs problem.

However, the court learnt that since being released from prison for one of a number of previous convictions last year, he had tested negative for drug use in tests.

Sentencing Brecknock, Deputy District Judge Kevin Grego said: "You have problems from your drug misuse but I am also concerned about your behaviour, which shows no empathy, no thought, for the victims of your offending.

"People return to the railway station late at night in order to make their way home to find somebody has decided to help himself to their bicycle. That makes it an expensive night for them.

"You go for top end cycles for the reason that, if they are worth £1,000, you can get £100 and it can keep you going for a few days. I have no confidence whatsoever that your behaviour will change."

He was also told to pay court costs of £180 and a £120 victim surcharge.