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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Geoffrey Bennett

Burglars who targeted high value bikes jailed

Two men who burgled homes and a shop for high value bikes have been jailed.

Michael Whatley and Steven Fry were convicted of several break-ins in which cycles worth thousands of pounds were pilfered.

In one raid they used a stolen van to plunder a bike shop of three high quality bikes worth £17,000, Bristol Crown Court heard.

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Whatley, 30, of no fixed address, was convicted after trial of burgling two homes and a bike shop but admitted handling stolen goods.

Fry, 31, of Lowlis Close in Henbury, admitted burgling two homes and a bike shop as well as handling stolen goods.

Judge William Hart jailed Whatley for 66 months and Fry for 40 months.

He told them: "These offences have all the hallmarks of targeted, professional, dwelling and commercial burglaries.

"Bicycles are extremely valuable pieces of equipment.

"Quite often they are more valuable than the motor cars the owners possess."

Julian Howells, prosecuting, said the pair stole bikes in two burglaries of homes.

He told the court they were convicted of taking a Transit van from one, which they used to steal prestige cycles worth some £17,000 from Friction Cycles in Bedminster.

Whatley's extensive list of previous convictions meant he qualified as a "three strike burglar", the court heard.

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Matthew Comer, defending Whatley, said: "All the offences took place in mid to late March 2021.

"Mr Whatley's role was to carry out the footwork in respect of the burglaries.

"His role was to store the bikes."

Mr Comer added that his client had super enhanced status in prison after spending a "significant proportion" of his life in custody.

Christopher Smyth, defending Fry, said: "He pleaded guilty at an early stage.

"He 's keen to clear the decks."

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