A SUSPENDED jail term has been handed to a man following a crime spree which included stealing a £2,000 motocross bike from a vehicle.

Bradley Foster, 24, of Westfield Terrace, Main Road, Flimby, pleaded guilty to the following offences when he appeared at Workington Magistrates’ Court:

  • Possessing a controlled drug of Class A – Heroin
  • Two charges of possessing a controlled drug of Class A – Cocaine
  • Using a motor vehicle on a road without third party insurance
  • Handling stolen goods
  • Two charges of theft from a motor vehicle
  • Possessing a controlled drug of Class B - Cannabis
  • Driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit

Outlining the offences, prosecutor Pamela Fee said Foster had been stopped by police while driving a Skoda vehicle in Flimby on August 21.

He was found with a snap bag of white powder and stated it was ‘half a gram’ for himself. A drugs wipe was positive for cocaine.

A blood test showed he had 374mcg of benzoylecgonine – the body breakdown product for cocaine – per litre of blood. The specified limit is 50mcg.

The white powder was tested and was positive for cocaine.

Further incidents took place on January 4 when Foster stole items from two vehicles in Flimby. He stole a motocross bike worth between £2,000 and £2,500.

Other items stolen included cash, battery chargers, torches, work gloves, a socket set, a screwdriver set and motocross goggles.

Foster was arrested by police at his home for these offences and was found to have two bags of cannabis in his possession.

During police interview, he admitted stealing the bike. He said a woman had since been to his house and he had handed the bike back to her.

Then on January 24 police stopped Foster while he was driving a Kia Sportage that was not registered to him on Meadow Road in Whitehaven.

He was holding something in his hand and was attempting to dispose of it. Brown powder was visible on the driver’s seat. He was arrested for possessing a Class A drug.

The registered keeper of the vehicle had not given permission for Foster to take the vehicle. Foster told police had had travelled to Manchester to see friends.

Mike Woolaghan, defending, said: “The theft matters are the most serious. The bike was recovered.

“He has been under the influence at the time. There are issues around deteriorating mental health.

“We discussed how he came into possession of the vehicle. Thankfully, the vehicle was brought back and would have been returned to the owner very promptly.”

Magistrates imposed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. Foster must also complete a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement, 15 rehabilitation days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

The defendant was ordered to pay £255 costs, a £154 victim surcharge and a total of £363.99 in compensation to his victims.

He was disqualified from driving for 36 months.

An order was made for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.