Thief snatched a bicycle from outside a shop

A thief who snatched a bicycle valued at £2,000 from outside a shop has been given an eight-week curfew.
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Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Monday how Lawrence Richardson, 47, of Sherwood Avenue, Creswell, had been driving by when he spotted the bike and took it with another offender.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “The complainant owns a pedal cycle that has been modified and it’s valued at £2,000.

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“He went to a shop in Creswell and put the bike partly in the entrance to keep an eye on it but in a minute it was gone.

“He ran outside and couldn’t see where it had gone to so enquiries were made and CCTV footage was obtained and a vehicle was spotted driving past and someone was seen taking the bike.”

The complainant had even asked Richardson, who had once offered to buy the bike and was told it was not for sale, if he had seen anyone with the bike before he was arrested for the offence.

Richardson pleaded guilty to stealing the bike after the incident in December.

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Mrs Allsop said the bike was recovered after a witness spotted it and recognised it from his kitchen.

Richardson told the court he was sorry but claimed the complainant had one of his bicycles and he only intended to keep the stolen bike until he got his own bike back.

The court heard how Richardson admitted the offence was a moment of stupidity and a spur of the moment theft.

He told the probation service he is the sole-carer of three youngsters and he is self-employed and works seven days a week.

Magistrates sentenced Richardson to an eight-week, electronically monitored curfew from 7pm to 7am.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.