Man locked up for his own good after stealing a bike and trying to sell it on Facebook

Declan Lancaster, 23, of no fixed abode, pinched the £250 Apollo Evade from a man in Houghton, who had placed it in his unlocked garage after a ride.

Prosecutor Lee Poppett told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court that Lancaster sneaked into the property, which is attached to the Integral Garage in Sparkwell Close, on Wednesday June 17.

He made a successful getaway but was rumbled when he tried to sell it on Facebook.

The bike was returned to its owner minus its drink and mobile phone holders, Mr Poppett said.

However, magistrates were told the real case conundrum was how to deal with the culprit, who they heard had not a single support service available to him.

They learnt his father had recently died and Lancaster was penniless and would become street homeless if granted his freedom – and that he welcomed imprisonment.

Jerry Armstrong, defending, said: “I doubt even Solomon’s wisdom could work its way through this predicament.

“He can’t get in touch with his brother, he doesn’t have the wherewithal to get back to Sunderland, and he doesn’t know if his brother or mum will be there for him.

“If you impose a short period of prison, the Probation Service will have to sort something out.

“He will have some release money and his benefits are next paid in ten to twelve days, and he has the ability then to find something for himself.

“I can’t put a package together for him and the Probation Service can’t because it’s not available to them.

“It’s a tragedy from every angle that it has come to this.”

Mr Poppett earlier told the hearing: “At 2.15pm on Wednesday, Mr Forsyth has come home from a ride and has placed his bike in the garage but has not locked the door.

“Fifteen minutes later, a neighbour knocks on his door and says that she believes someone may have opened the door and taken the bike.

“A post is placed on Facebook and Mr Lancaster is identified. He is arrested. He accepts that he took the bike.”

The court heard Lancaster had 21 convictions from 31 offences and in committing his latest crime had breached the terms of a community order imposed for a previous bike theft.

Tony Hewison, chair of the bench, told Lancaster, who pleaded guilty to burglary: “The starting point for this offence is 12 weeks in custody, but we think this is more serious because you’ve committed it in breach of a community order.

“We do hope that the result of this sentence will give you the help and assistance that you need to get your life back in order.”

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