A bike thief avoided prison when he was given a suspended sentence in Magistrates’ Court.

Michael Smith, 23, of no fixed abode, received a 12-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to stealing a motorcycle between February 22 and 23.

The court heard the complainant, Ronald Chan, parked his cycle at Albuoy’s Point, on February 22, and went to work. When he couldn’t find his keys later that day, he made arrangements to come to the parking lot the next morning with a spare key. When he arrived at Albuoy’s Point the following day, the cycle was missing.

Police found the bike on June 2 parked at Prince Alfred’s Terrace, in Somerset. Smith was arrested that morning and admitted to stealing the cycle.

“I’m terribly sorry for the wrongdoings I have done,” Smith said. Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months. He was also put on a two-year probation.