Motorcycle thief sped away on stolen bike during test ride

A thief stole a motorcycle which was being sold for £3,000 after he took the Kawasaki bike for a test ride and never came back.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.Chesterfield magistrates' court.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard today, Wednesday, June 29, how Daniel Robert Irons, 27, had contacted the owners via an eBay advert and stole the bike when he went to look at it at a farm in Youlgreave.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “Mr Charles Hunter placed an advert on eBay in relation to his son’s trail bike worth £3,000 and there was a response from a male saying he wanted to look at it.

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“The man looked at the bike and asked if it had been raced and was told it hadn’t and it was in a very good condition.

“He asked if he could have a run up and down on the bike and Mr Hunter told him he would let him have a quick ride but the male left and rode off out of sight and never returned.”

Police tracked Irons down by his mobile phone number, according to Mrs Allsop, which had been given in response to the advert and it was also linked to a motorbike enthusiasts’ website.

Irons admitted stealing the bike to police and added that a friend had helped put it in the back of a van and he had sold it on for £700.

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Mrs Allsop added that Irons has previous convictions including thefts from vehicles, vehicle taking and aggravated vehicle-taking.

Irons pleaded guilty to stealing the Kawasaki KX250F belonging to Theodore Hunter after the offence on February 24.

The motorcycle has never been recovered, according to Mrs Allsop.

Defence solicitor John Wilford said Irons, who has mental health issues, has been working with South Yorkshire Housing to help him get accommodation and he is aiming to complete a plumbing course at college.

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Magistrates adjourned the case until July 4 to consider a probation report before sentencing.

Irons, of Burgoyne Road, Sheffield, was released on conditional bail on the grounds he does not enter Derbyshire apart from meeting with his solicitor.