A FATHER-OF-TWO from Malvern has been handed a community order for stealing motorbike parts from a scrapyard in Upton.

Chad Hodgkins of Russell Drive appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Friday, January 24 following his conviction for the theft on Wednesday, July 17, and breaching a suspended sentence.

Prosecutor Kerry Brookes told the court a witness had seen the 20-year-old and another older man enter a scrapyard in Upton at about 7.50pm on July 17 and take two wheels, part of a frame and a tyre.

“In interview he stated he thought they had permission to take them,” she said.

The owner of the yard later told police the total value of the stolen items was no more than £50.

Hodgkins, who has two children aged four and 13 months, had denied the charge but was found guilty on Thursday, January 16.

Ann Mathews (CORR), defending, said Hodgkins had been drafted in by the second man, aged 65, to help carry the stolen items.

“Your colleagues felt Mr Hodgkins must have known something dodgy was going on when he was dropped at the site,” she said.

She said he had last year carried out a community order in relation to another theft which had made a significant difference to his life.

“He has turned his thinking around from feeling he was going nowhere without a chance in life,” she said.

“He thinks he stands a chance of being a productive member of society.”

“He is living a much more settled lifestyle than he was in July.”

The court also heard in carrying out the theft Hodgkins, who is unemployed, had breached a suspended sentence he had been handed in January 2013 for another theft earlier that month.

The court handed him a 12-month community order including 70 hours of unpaid work and ordered him to pay £50 compensation to the owner of the yard as well as £200 costs and a £60 victim surcharge. The suspended sentence, which due to finish this month, was also extended a further six months until June.

Chairman of the bench Lynne Brown said she and her colleagues had thought very carefully about what the appropriate sentence would be.

“Your record shows numerous breaches of court orders and that cannot be allowed to continue,” she said.

“If you come back again you are going to be in real trouble.

“Unless you turn your life around you are going to spend most of your life in prison. That is in your hands.”

Hodgkins answered: “You won’t see me again”.