A SELFISH thief who helped himself to a high-value bicycle belonging to someone else has been put behind bars.

Perry Stanley made off on an expensive ‘Nukeproof’ bike worth thousands of pounds after coming across it in Stockton Heath.

The actions of the 30-year-old caused ‘emotional distress’, Warrington Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday, May 3.

As a result, magistrates deemed that his actions merited an immediate custodial sentence.

Michael O'Kane, prosecuting, told the court how the charge of theft was committed on March 3 at around 2.50pm.

Officers responded to a report that a black and yellow Nukeproof Mega pedal cycle had been stolen from the Forge Shopping Centre on London Road.

Perry Stanley caught on CCTV

Perry Stanley caught on CCTV

The bike has a retail price of around £2,000, and as part of its investigation, Cheshire Police issued a CCTV image of a man that they believed held ‘vital information’.

Stanley was identified from the footage and was later charged with theft of pedal cycle – a charge he pleaded guilty to.

However, magistrates said that the severity of the offence meant that only a custodial sentence could be justified.

This was due to the ‘emotional distress and impact’ the crime had on the owner of the bike, as well as the financial loss he sustained.

Stanley, of Meadway in Widnes, was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison and ordered to pay compensation of £2,500.