An Aberdeenshire man stole 20 bikes from a leasing company – but was caught thanks to DNA evidence.
Steven Whyte helped himself to the for-hire bicycles from an address on Hillview Road in Peterculter.
The bikes themselves were found leaning against a wall nearby, but there was no sign of the 32-year-old.
But police managed to link the theft to Whyte after finding his DNA on the bicycles.
Fiscal depute Georgia Laird said the incident happened on April 6 2022.
‘Narrowly miss several parked cars’
Whyte pled guilty to a charge of theft over that matter but also admitted breaking into a number of garages and performing a handbrake turn in a car park.
On May 12 2022, Whyte broke into a garage on Fountainhall Road, Aberdeen, with intent to steal, and broke into another garage on the same street where he stole a golf club.
And on the same date, Whyte broke into a third garage, this time on Hamilton Place, and stole a bicycle.
On top of the housebreaking with intent to steal and two theft by housebreaking charges, Whyte further admitted careless driving and driving while disqualified.
Ms Laird told the court Whyte was driving in the communal car park at Donald Dewar Court at 3.01am on May 12 2022.
She said: “The vehicle was observed driving well in excess of the speed limit before doing a sudden and harsh handbrake-style turn, causing the rear wheels to narrowly miss several parked cars.”
Sheriff Margaret Hodge ordered Whyte, of Fraser Way, Rothienorman, to be supervised for two years.
She also imposed a five-month curfew and a 55-month driving ban.
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