Man sentenced for bike thefts – Oxford

Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man has been sentenced for a string of bike thefts in Oxford.

Sean Denton, aged 43, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to five counts of theft of a pedal cycle at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (31/8).

Denton was also given a criminal behaviour order with several conditions to reduce the likelihood of him reoffending.

Denton stole bicycles on St Ebbes Street on 12 December last year, on New College Lane on 18 December last year, on Cowley Road on 4 January, on St Cross Road on 15 January and on Between Towns Road on 11 February.

Every time, the victim would secure their bicycle to a rack with a cable lock and return to find the lock cut and the bike stolen.

Denton was charged on 28 July.

Investigating officer Sergeant Peter Neale, of the Oxford City Centre Neighbourhood Team, based at St Aldates police station, said: “Sean Denton is a prolific cycle thief and our intensive efforts towards him show our continued dedication to reduce cycle crime across the city. 

“Our efforts in partnership has resulted in achieving a number of convictions, a reduction of 48% in cycle thefts in the city centre in the last two years, and we have given out over 250 weeks of imprisonment to offenders. 

“While securing convictions is key to success, we have also secured a criminal behaviour order for Denton, which will last for five years and is aimed at reducing the impact he has in the city through bike crime. 

“This is the second criminal behaviour order we have secured for a cycle thief in the city and we hope it will be just as successful in further reducing bike thefts. 

“We have worked with many partners in recent months for cycle crime reduction campaigns in the city and we hope to repeat them later this year.”

JD