Couple stole bikes from Deliveroo riders in Derby
THEY USED BOLT CUTTERS TO BEAT LOCKS
A PAIR of bikes thieves were chased by a Deliveroo rider whose two wheels they stole in Derby city centre.
But when he caught up with the couple, having borrowed a colleague’s bicycle to pursue them, they stole that too.
Derby Crown Court heard how Wayne Churchill and Kimberley Davis used bolt croppers to snap the lock after spotting their target at The Spot.
While prolific thief Churchill rode off on it, Davis left the scene on foot.
Churchill is at HMP Nottingham waiting to be sentenced after pleading guilty to a number of thefts and assault.
But Davis’ case was dealt with, the 43-year-old being told to steer clear of her partner when he is released and stay off drugs or risk being sent into custody herself.
Handing her a 12-month community order with a drug rehabilitation requirement, Recorder Paul Mann QC said: “Keep your hands off other people’s property – and seize this chance I have given you because I promise you aren’t going to get another one for a long time.
“What has ruined your life is drugs and they will continue to ruin your life until you find the resolve and the help to finally come to grips with it.”
Lauren Butts, prosecuting, said Churchill and Davis, of Siddals Road, Derby, targeted their first victim on September 17.
She said he rode his £1,300 bicycle into the city centre and locked it outside Wilkos in London Road.
Miss Butts said: “He saw a male hanging around, but didn’t think anything of it until 15 minutes later when he returned to find his bike gone.
“CCTV later showed David use bolt croppers on the lock and Churchill ride off on it.”
Miss Butts said after being questioned and released from that theft, the pair struck again on September 22.
She said the Deliveroo driver locked his bike outside the Spot, David again broke the chain with the croppers and left on foot while Churchill rode off down London Road. Miss Butts said: “The driver asked another Deliveroo rider if he could borrow his bike to chase him and he did just that. When they got to the junction of Bradshaw Way, he had caught up with Churchill and tried to take his bike back.
“At that point the driver was assaulted by Churchill who left with Davis and both bikes.”
Miss Butts said the pair were also responsible for another bike theft at around the same time – belonging to a student who locked it outside the Joseph Wright Centre and returned to find it gone.
Davis pleaded guilty to three thefts and has 38 convictions for 88 offences.
Churchill, 34, will be sentenced at a later date.
Recorder Mann said: “If these two get back together no one’s bike in Derby will be safe again.”
If these two get back together no one’s bike in Derby will be safe again.
Recorder Paul Mann