Pair admit handling £26,000 worth of Honda and Yamaha motorbikes stolen in Leeds which were then sold in Lithuania

Alan Bones and Edvinas Srebalius were handed suspended sentences over their involvement in the disappearance of five high-powered machines during 2017.

Leeds Crown Court heard Bones was stopped in his work van by police in September 17 after a call from a member of the public.

Incriminating images were found on his mobile phone which also linked Srebalius to the offending.

Both men pleaded guilty to five counts of handling stolen goods.

The offences relate to the theft of a Honda Fireblade worth £12,000 stolen from a house in Leeds and a Honda 50 worth £4,500 in July 2017.

WhatsApp images of the motorbikes were found on both defendants' phones.

Peter Byrne, prosecuting, said it was the Crown's case that the vehicles were stolen then removed to remote locations to see if they were fitted with trackers.

Mr Byrne said is was not the prosecution case that the pair had been involved in the theft of the machines.

He said another man had been involved in stealing them before they arranged onward sale.

During interview Srebalius admitted buying all of the motorbikes from Bones to sell for profit.

Srebalius said he had arranged for them to be sold in Lithuania.

Srebalius replied asking for a photo of the machine and made arrangements to collect it from Bones' home.

Probation officer Mick Berry told the court both defendants accepted responsibility for the offences and had expressed remorse for what they had done.

The court heard Srebalius, 36, of Meadow Bank, Wakefield, moved to the UK from Lithuania with his wife and children in 2015 and now has his own own carpentry business.

Mr Berry said Bones, of Elmete Mount, Roundhay, ran a waste disposal company.

Both were given six-month prison sentences, suspended for two years, and were ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Christopher Batty said: "To some extent, had this come to court a lot sooner, you would be in a very different position today.

"These offences were a long time ago."