A BIKE thief got his dues when the stolen machine he was riding broke down as he tried to speed off during a test drive, a court heard.
Mark Machae, 35, from Worcester was eventually arrested after forensic experts matched a strand of hair from his baseball cap, which he left behind at the scene.
Machae tried to con the private seller by using photocopied £20 notes in a brown envelope, which he handed over as a deposit, before nicking off with the £1200 bike.
Marie Watton, prosecuting, said:
“He viewed the bike for several minutes before asking for a test drive,” she said. “He said he would definitely buy the bike. The seller said he would only let him take a test drive if he handed over the £1,200 as a deposit."
Unfortunately for Machae, the bike broke down while he tried making his escape.
District judge Bruce Morgan sentenced Machae to four months in prison but suspended that for two years. Machae is to be supervised for 12 months, has been made subject of a drug rehabilitation requirement and was ordered to pay £300 compensation.
