An Ellesmere Port man stole two unattended bicycles to help fund his drug habit.
Kane Eaton, 22, of John Nicholas Crescent, Ellesmere Port, admitted two offences of theft when he appeared at Chester Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 21st November 2023.
Theft is an offence under section 1 of the Theft Act 1968. The maximum penalty for theft is 7 years' custody on conviction on indictment, 6 months' custody and/or an unlimited fine on summary conviction. We have previously written an article on the legalities surrounding theft.
Magistrates heard that the opportunistic theft took place in Flint Court, Ellesmere Port, during the early hours of Sunday, 3rd September 2023.
Eaton was captured on CCTV walking back and forth, before spotting the two bicycles and wheeling them away into the night.
The adult and child's Carrera mountain bikes, valued at £600 in total, were not recovered.
Steven Alis, mitigating, told the court that his client had not benefitted from the thefts, as he had been chased and had to abandon the bicycles.
The court heard that Eaton was making efforts to get his life back on track, having moved back in with his mother and seeking help to detox.
Maurice McBride, Presiding Justice, said: "We have heard some good news today - you have managed to sort your drug problem out. Keep on the straight and narrow."
Magistrates decided to step away from the relevant guidelines by imposing a standalone compensation order to cover the cost of the bicycles.
Eaton was ordered to pay £600 in compensation. The court made no order for the payment of prosecution costs and no surcharge is payable.
Mr McBride said: "These people have lost their bikes and they deserve their money back, at the end of the day."
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