TWO Carlisle criminals whose records include multiple burglaries have been sentenced for stealing quad bikes worth £11,000 from an Eden Valley farm.

At Carlisle Crown Court, a prosecutor outlined how the victim was a farmer in Plumpton whose working day began at 5am on May 11, when he went to an outbuilding to find it had been broken into.

The two Honda quad bikes he had left inside were missing after the padlock securing the door was cut away, the burglars using bolt croppers which they left at the scene.

The culprits were later identified as Stuart Kendrick, 41, and Mark Young, 25.

Prosecutor Claire Larton outlined the facts.

She said the farmer had left the quad bikes securely stored in the outbuilding after finishing his day’s work at 10pm on May 10. He discovered the burglary as he started his day’s work the following morning.

On the same day, police were sent to a report of a man seen riding one of the stolen quad bikes on an estate in the city. He was pursued and caught and when interviewed he told police he had brought the bikes the previous evening.

He denied being involved in the burglary. The two defendants were named as the people responsible for the burglary. Police also discovered that Mark Young’s girlfriend had hired a Transit van on May 10.

This was the vehicle used to transport the two quad bikes away from the farm on the night of the burglary, said Miss Larton. Tell tale tyre marks were found inside the van when police examined it.

Mobile phone analysis showed the defendants were in the area of the burglary at the time it happened while the contact who was caught riding one of the stolen bikes confirmed that he had bought it at around midnight after the burglary.

The court heard that Kendrick, of Stonegarth, Morton, has 77 offences on his record, which include three non-dwelling burglaries and three dwelling house burglaries; while Young, of Bower Street, Carlisle, has 74 previous offences.

They include 13 non-dwelling burglaries and two dwelling house burglaries.

Andrew Evans, for Young, said the defendant had suffered multiple bereavements, including the loss of a child, his grandfather and the loss of his birth father within the last two weeks while he was in custody.

“He was not present in Carlisle to assist his surviving family and this has weighed heavily on him,” said Mr Evans.

The barrister said the background report prepared by a probation officer concluded that the defendant is 'motivated to change'.

He was now free of his drug addiction and planning to find work when released.

Kim Whittlestone, for Kendrick, said her client had battled with a long-term addiction to heroin but he had now managed to reduce his habit from one costing £100 per day to £10 per day.

He was also keen to continue supporting his partner, who was suffering from a brain tumour, said Miss Whittlestone.

Judge Nicolas Barker said that in his view there had been 'significant planning' involved in the burglary offence.

The judge said: “I find that Young was the principal in committing this offence; it was through him the transit van was hired.”

Kendrick acted as a lookout for his co-defendant, which he did in the expectation of being paid in drugs.

It was accepted that Young had a difficult upbringing and had suffered bereavements, but the judge said his criminal record was bad for somebody aged just 25, with the defendant constantly committing offences since 2010.

They included a robbery and 13 non-dwelling burglaries.

Judge Barker jailed Young for eight months. Turning to Kendrick, the judge noted that there appeared to be a 'real prospect' of him progressing with the work he has done with the Probation Service in recent months,

Rather than imposing a sentence of six or seven-months jail, much of which would be accounted for by the 81 days Kendrick has spent on home curfew, the judge imposed six months jail suspended for two years.

This includes 45 rehabilitation activity days and a thinking skills programme. This will allow the Probation Service to continue supporting and guiding Kendrick.