Cycle thief who plagued bike owners jailed

Warren Bailey admitted multiple offences

A prolific bicycle thief and shoplifter has been jailed for almost three years.

Drug addict Warren Bailey, 32, stole secured bikes worth hundreds of pounds each from locked storage areas at flat blocks, student accommodation and a hospital, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He admitted multiple offences including burglary and theft, with none of the stolen items recovered, and was jailed for a total of two years nine months and a week.

Several of his victims said the thefts had caused financial hardship while some of the bikes had "great sentimental value".

'Extremely frustrating'

Prosecutor Jordan Parkinson said Bailey, of Barford Court in Low Fell, Gateshead, took a bike which had been chained to a post outside the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle on 25 November last year.

The victim said the bike had been given to him by his late mother and its theft had made him and his family "angry and upset".

Having been arrested and released on bail for that offence, Bailey stole four bikes from cycle storage units at apartment buildings and student accommodation in June.

One victim, whose £750 bike was stolen, said it had been "upsetting" while another, who lost a £400 bicycle, said it had been given to him by an ill relative so was of "great sentimental value" and the theft was "extremely frustrating" and "disturbing".

Bailey also took a bike belonging to a doctor from the RVI on 26 June, the court heard.

'Frightening sight'

Earlier that month Bailey was seen by a security guard forcing his way into the Centre For Life in Newcastle through a locked side door, Ms Parkinson said.

He told police he was looking for somewhere to sleep as he was homeless but admitted in court he was trying to commit a burglary.

Bailey, who has 26 previous convictions for 60 offences, also admitted three incidents of shop-lifting from Morrisons Daily in Gateshead in June.

On 24 July he was caught breaking into bike shops CK Cycles in North Shields, the court heard.

In mitigation, John Crawford said Bailey had stolen the bikes to fund a crack cocaine addiction he had had since the age of 11.

Judge Nicholas Lumley KC said bikes had "huge" sentimental and practical value to their owners and in each case they had "done what they could to lock up their bikes", adding: "none of this is their fault."

The judge said Bailey "would have presented as a frightening sight for any bike owner who had to confront" him, although "fortunately" that had not happened during any of the thefts.