Second prison sentence in two months for man in Peterborough Station bike racks equipped to steal

A man caught in the bike racks at Peterborough Station with wire cutters and a multi-tool kit has been jailed two months after his previous custodial sentence for the same offence.
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Liam Ballard (25) of no fixed abode was spotted loitering by an off-duty police officer after appearing to spend around 40 minutes examining bikes in the bike racks at the station.

Peterborough Magistrates’ Court heard that Ballard, who did not appear to have a bike of his own, was spotted looking at several different bikes and checking the back of the British Transport Police offices several times.

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A second off-duty officer arrived at the scene and Ballard was seen to have a tool up his sleeve which he was told to drop, before being arrested.

Peterborough StationPeterborough Station
Peterborough Station

Ballard was said to have provided no comment in police interview, but was given 16 weeks in prison on Friday for being equipped to steal.

He had been sentenced to eight weeks in prison for the same offence in early July.

Claire Thorneley defending said Ballard had been sleeping rough and receives “very little support in the community” when released from prison.

It was ordered that the items be destroyed.