A THIEF who helped himself to an officer's bike from a police station was caught red-handed trying for a second bite at the cherry.

Burnley magistrates heard how Tony Joseph Fallows, 22, was caught standing next to another policeman's bike with a pair of cutters and tried to hide behind a wheelie bin when spotted.

Fallows, of Cedar Street, Burnley, was put on probation for 12 months and ordered to pay £210 in compensation and costs. He admitted burglary on or about January 21 and asked for another offence to be considered.

Neil White, prosecuting, said Fallows told the officer he was looking for his bike which had been stolen. Fallows had earlier stolen another bike from the Burnley police station store.

Fallows was conditionally discharged for 12 months last November after being found at Padiham Police station - again trying to pinch a bike.

Mr White said: "It is something of a hobby for the defendant."

Mark Williams, defending, said Fallows had a bad record and used amphetamine. In the past he had been able to control it but it had started to get the better of him.

Fallows was not going to go out burgling and robbing - he was a petty offender and committed crime to buy drugs. Mr Williams went on: "He apologised for his behaviour. This is not any sort of grudge against the police. When arrested, he had always co-operated."

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