Farnworth: Attempted burglar caught after stealing bike

Derek Broadhurst, 35, spied the £300 bicycle at a branch of Asda in Farnworth on Wednesday, July 20 last year.

Minshull Street Crown Court heard how he was seen on CCTV turning towards the bike before picking it up and riding off on it.

Aubrey Sampson, prosecuting, said: “The defendant walked past the bike, turned, did a 180 degree turn back towards the bike, picked it up and then rode off on it.”

He added: “The victim’s mum said she paid £300 for the bike.”

The case was heard at Minshull Street Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

The bicycle has not been recovered.

Mr Sampson told the court how Broadhurst, of Crompton Street, Farnworth, had pleaded guilty to the theft of the bike before the Magistrates Court at the first opportunity.

But Broadhurst, who has 36 previous convictions for 65 offences, had also been brought before the court for an attempted burglary in Bolton on May 16 last year.

According Mr Sampson, Broadhurst was caught on CCTV trying the door on a house in Bolton after the woman living there had gone out.

He looked directly into the camera before walking away again.

She then posted the footage on social media and Broadhurst was identified and arrested.

He had been due to face a trial for attempted burglary this week but instead opted to plead guilty on the opening day.

Nicholas Ross, defending, accepted that his client's record was ‘unattractive’ but pointed out that Broadhurst has already been in custody for around five months since his arrest.

He added that nothing was actually taken and no damage was done during the attempted burglary, which he argued was opportunistic rather than seriously planned.

Mr Ross said: “He was in drink, he accepts this, and found that old habits die hard.

“He was not equipped, he was not, ‘tooled up’ to use the vernacular.”

Mr Ross also told the court that Broadhurst had been working at addressing his behaviour while on remand and that he deserved credit for having pleaded guilty.

He said: “Unsurprisingly for an offender with his record, there is a long history of substance abuse, particularly Class A drug use.”

He added: “His objective now is to find some employment and hopefully move forward to a more useful, drug free lifestyle.”

Recorder Michael Blakey accepted that this had played a part in driving Broadhurst to his crimes but reminded the court of the effect he had had on his victims.

Addressing the defendant, he said: “You have had and still have a problem with drugs that has driven you towards criminality.

“That is not an excuse but a reason for your behaviour.”

ALSO READ: 'Watch your back': Prolific shoplifter threatened staff across Bolton

ALSO READ: Crackdown on one of Bolton's most prolific crimes gets results

ALSO READ: Warning for burglar who twice targeted ex-partner's house

But despite his history, Recorder Blakey said he recognised that there was ‘good within you’ as well.

He sentenced Broadhurst to a total of three months in prison, which he had already served thanks to his time spent on remand.

He also ordered that he pay £50 towards the cost of the bicycle.