Train Driver Spotted Cycle Thief At Ely Railway Station
BRAZEN thief James Leonard stole a valuable pedal cycle from a rack at Ely railway station and then loaded it on to a train. But a vigilant train driver had spotted serial thief Leonard as he grabbed the �239 cycle on platform one, and police were alerted
BRAZEN thief James Leonard stole a valuable pedal cycle from a rack at Ely railway station and then loaded it on to a train.
But a vigilant train driver had spotted serial thief Leonard as he grabbed the �239 cycle on platform one, and police were alerted.
Leonard had walked under the subway with the stolen cycle to climb aboard a train to his home town of King's Lynn
And when officers met Leonard when he arrived at the Norfolk station, he was found with the cycle, a pair of cutters and two Allen keys.
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At an earlier hearing 42-year-old Leonard, of London Road, King's Lynn, had admitted stealing Daniel Barrett's cycle on June 29, and going equipped for theft.
"A male was seen by a train driver behaving suspiciously at the cycle racks on platform one, he approached one bike, grappled with it, and then moved on to another cycle," said prosecutor Fred Sagoe.
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"He removed that cycle from the rack, and platform staff saw him walking towards the subway. He boarded the King's Lynn train; and the train driver reported what he had seen.
"When police met the train, Leonard was arrested on suspicion of theft, and the cycle was returned to its owner."
Representing Leonard, Charles Snelling said: "He has a history of committing thefts of this nature, and has served time in prison. He has been in prison on several occasions for offences of this nature; he appears to have a problem with consequential thinking."
The court gave Leonard a new 18-month supervision order, during which he must take part in a general offending behaviour programme and carry out 134 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay �250 costs.
