A MAN has been jailed after making off with 40ft of electricity cable belonging to an industrial estate on a bike.

Shane Bowman was sentenced to eight weeks in prison at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court today (Thursday, August 28) after admitting the theft at Abraham Enterprise Park, St Helen Auckland, in the early hours of Saturday, July 19.

The 23-year-old, of Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, had also previously pleaded guilty to the theft of a bottle of milk and two bottles of orange juice from a large fridge container on the same morning.

Magistrates’ heard how Bowman also admitted going equipped to steal after being found with screwdrivers, a hacksaw, crowbar, torch and gloves when he was stopped by police three days later.

During a search of his house on Monday, August 18, officers discovered a child’s bike, which did not belong to him and he pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods.

The court was told Bowman was identified by CCTV, which showed him riding a bike around the units on the enterprise park at about 5.20am, with the cable, valued at about £250, dragging behind him.

Callum Terry, representing Bowman, said he had taken steps to address problems in his life.

“This is relatively low level offending,” he said. “He does have a history. He is trying to sort himself out.”

Bowman received four weeks in prison for the burglary, two weeks for theft and two weeks for breaching a conditional discharge, which will run concurrently and a further two weeks for going equipped to steal and two weeks for receiving stolen goods, which magistrates’ ordered to run consecutively.