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A bike repair man has swapped handlebars for prison bars after he was caught peddling stolen cycles.
Simon Taylor was caught with bikes worth thousands, which had been stolen from members of the public at great inconvenience and expense.
A court heard one electric bike had been bought by a Royal Mail employee to to her job during lockdown.
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Taylor admitted handling stolen goods and has now been jailed at Newcastle Crown Court. His partner, Ashley Sheraton, who helped him with some of the offences, was given a community order.
The first victim had his Carrera bike stolen in Sunderland in June 2020.
The second, a woman who works for Royal Mail, had a Pendleton electric bike she bought for £1,000 to use doing her job stolen.
A third victim had his £800 bike stolen from a secured shed in a yard and later saw someone riding it.
The fourth victim had a Carrera bike stolen from her garden and later saw her bike advertised on Facebook.
Police attended the couple’s home at Padgate Road, Sunderland, after reports of stolen property and found 14 bikes there.
After that warrant was executed, Taylor used Sheraton’s Facebook and phone to continue to offend.
The fifth victim had his bike, worth £895, stolen from his place of work on Pilgrim Street, Newcastle.
Police issued a media appeal in September 2020 and as a result the sixth victim came forward, saying her £1,400 electric bike had been stolen.
Neil Jones, prosecuting, said there was mobile phone and CCTV evidence proving the guilt of the couple.
The total value of the stolen bikes was more than £4,500.
Mr Jones added: “There were Facebook marketplace entries indicating dealing in bikes was ongoing at that address.”
Taylor, 39, who has 41 previous convictions, including for theft, admitted six counts of handling stolen goods and was jailed for three years.
Sheraton, 35, who has no previous convictions, admitted two counts of handling stolen goods and was given a two year community order with a three month curfew. She must also pay £125 compensation to her two victims, at £20 a month.
Sentencing them, Judge Penny Moreland said: “You, Simon Taylor were running what you described as a bike repair business that involved handling stolen bikes.
“Some were extremely valuable to the people who owned them, some were very expensive bikes, some were used by people to get to work during lockdown, one was used to carry out person’s work commitment.
“The thefts would have caused extreme inconvenience and expense to them.”
Vic Laffey, for Taylor, said: “He had not been in trouble for a significant period of time.
“He knew they were too good to be true.”
Helen Towers, for Sheraton, said: “She played a lesser role in the offending.”
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