Sponsored by
Richmond Hill bike thief targeted costly rides to steal
A professional bicycle thief from Richmond Hill stole valuable cycles to order, a court was told.
* Click here to sign up to free news and sport email alerts from Harehills Today.
Paul Digney admitted two charges of cycle theft when he appeared at Leeds Crown Court.
* Click here to become a fan of Harehills Today on Facebook.
And he asked for 44 thefts and burglaries – all involving bicycles – to be taken into consideration.
Prosecutor, Tony Kelbrick said in May a lock was cut and a 1,500 bicycle was stolen from the underground car park at Bridgewater Place on Water Lane, Leeds.
Two unidentified suspects were spotted on CCTV.
In June a 600 cycle was taken on the Headrow after the lock was cut and again the suspects were captured on CCTV.
Digney, 26, and his girlfriend Helen Mason, 47, were recognised by police and arrested.
Digney and Mason, both of Temple View Place, Richmond Hill, Leeds, admitted the two thefts and were bailed to appear at court for sentence.
In July, while on bail, Digney smashed the window of a Vauxhall Corsa parked in an underground car park at flats on Concord Street, Sheepscar, and stole a briefcase and kitchen cabinet.
He admitted that theft and asked for 44 other offences, all related to cycle thefts, to be taken into account.
Mason asked for seven other offences of burglary and theft, all involving bicycles, to be taken into consideration.
The court heard Digney has 28 previous convictions for 42 offences including burglary, robbery and theft of bicycles.
Digney's lawyer Jane Cooper said he stole to fund a drug habit and help partner Mason out with her financial difficulties.
Judge Christopher Batty handed Digney a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered him to undergo a nine month drug rehabilitation programme.
Judge Batty said: "You decided over the last few years that the way to fund your addiction is to steal pedal cycles, probably because you think that individually it's not that serious.
"I take the view you are doing it so regularly – this is your third appearance for theft of cycles – and you are clearly carrying equipment around with you. You clearly have a ready outlet for the cycles, there's an element of professionalism about these offences."
Judge Batty sentenced Mason to a 12 month community order with supervision.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Saturday 19 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North
