Bike thief caught following police chase

A bike thief has been sentenced following a police chase in Stukeley Meadows.

A member of the public called police at about 2.40am on Saturday (6 July) to report two bikes being stolen from Levers Water.

Officers arrived and found Benjamin Proctor walking along the pavement pushing a bike while wearing a pair of blur latex gloves.

The 19-year-old, of no fixed address, spotted police and threw the bike in a bush before running off.

After a short foot chase he was stopped and arrested.

At Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday (8 July), Proctor pleaded guilty to bike theft, vehicle interference and going equipped for theft. He was given a community order to carry out 120 hours unpaid work.

PC Domenico Cotugno, who investigated, said: “There can be a misconception that ‘lower-level’ criminality such as bike theft are less important and given less priority that other crimes. However, we recognise the impact these thefts have on their victims and will continue to work tirelessly to arrest and put before the courts those responsible.”