A court has heard how a thief gave a stolen bike to police after its owner posted a Facebook appeal featuring the suspect’s picture.
The Voodoo mountain bike, worth £1,500, was taken from an alley beside the CeX shop on Scotch Street in Carlisle city centre on February 11 this year.
CCTV showed 53-year-old William Pearson walking along the pedestrianised area with the bike.
Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard today how the owner had posted a message on the social media platform afterwards.
“That’s my bike!” he said in the post, which also included a video footage still of the suspect.
“Anyone know who this guy is? He’s got one chance to bring my bike back… and he can walk away no further action. Or I’ll send all three CCTV angles to the police.”
Pearson later went to Carlisle’s Durranhill police station and admitted his guilt.
The bike was recovered, undamaged.
In court Pearson, of no fixed abode, admitted one offence of theft.
Defence lawyer John Smith, mitigating, said homeless Pearson’s offence had been clearly spur of the moment.
District judge Philip Holden agreed it had been an opportunistic offence.
“You took a bike that you had no right to take but ultimately when the matter was circulated on Facebook you did the right thing,” said the judge.
Pearson was given a 12-month conditional discharge, which means he will only be punished if he commits another offence during that time.
