Leeds mechanic who worked on stolen motorcycles avoids jail

Joseph Thrush pleaded guilty to six counts of handling stolen goods

Leeds mechanic who worked on stolen motorcycles avoids jail
Photo: Bigstock

A Leeds mechanic who worked on stolen motorcycles for local criminals has been given a two-year community order for a string of offences.

Leeds Crown Court heard how Joseph Thrush worked on the bikes for cash from his home in the Seacroft area of the city. Some of the victims were delivery riders for local takeaways.

In March 2021, a rider was collecting food from a restaurant when his Honda was stolen. Police tracked the motorcycle to Seacroft where Thrush’s fingerprints were found on the body.

A month later, police visited Thrush’s home to arrest him, only to discover another motorcycle stolen from a Deliveroo rider.

In July 2022, having traced a stolen motorcycle to Thrush’s garden, they found the defendant in the garden wearing a helmet. Having failed to escape, Thrush swung his helmet at an officer who sustained injuries to his arm and forehead.

Thrush, who has 10 previous convictions for 25 offences, pleaded guilty to six counts of handling stolen goods and one count of assaulting an emergency worker.

Judge Andrew Stubbs KC told Thrush: “I could very easily send you to prison today. But it’s the last thing any judge wants to do.

“It seems to me that the developing relationship which you have, which has kept you out of trouble for a long period of time, and the fact you haven’t committed offences while you’ve been on court bail, it gives you a chance to do something different.

“I’m giving you this chance. If you don’t take it, you’ll come back in front of me and I’ll send you away.”

Thrush was given a two-year community order, which includes 240 hours of unpaid work, a three-month curfew and 20 rerehabilitation activity requirement days.

Source: Yorkshire Evening Post

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