A serial bike thief who failed to appear in court last month including five counts of stealing bicycles has been arrested after five weeks on the run from police.

Ashley Jordan, aged 18, failed to appear at Worcester Magistrates’ Court on Friday 1 March to face 15 charges, reports the Cotswold Journal.

British Transport Police revealed on Saturday that Ashley Jordan, aged 18, was arrested following a short chase on foot also involving officers from West Mercia Police.

Jordan, who admitted one charge of possession of cannabis, had been found guilty in his absence of five counts of theft of bikes in Worcester and Droitwich, five counts of damaging bicycles and one count of having blot cutters for use in theft.

He was also found guilty of failing to surrender to custody and of trespassing on railway property.