A homeless man admitted handling some 40 stolen cycles worth £31,000 from in and around Bristol. Lewis Collins operated from his city centre tent offering stolen bikes worth £150 to £2,500, Bristol Crown Court heard.
But he was brought to justice when an owner who spotted his bike for sale liaised with police to catch Collins in a sting. The 27-year-old, of no fixed address, admitted 20 charges of handling stolen goods and asked for 19 similar charges to be considered.
Judge Michael Cullum jailed him for 20 months. He told Collins: "You were running a business. You continued to offend after you were arrested.
