Cambridge Bike Thief To Spend Christmas Behind Bars

Eagle-eyed CCTV operators in Cambridge city centre captured James Peyton stealing high value bikes.

The 28-year-old was first spotted stealing an electronic push bike in Trumpington Street on 11 November, just minutes after the owner had locked it up and left it.

On 20 November they saw him take a road bike from Parkers Piece ten minutes after the owner had locked it up.

On 6 December the CCTV operators alerted police to Market Street where Peyton was striking again but he made off as officers arrived.

Officers caught up with him on Saturday (11 December) after CCTV operators once again alerted police to Peyton acting suspiciously on Kings Parade and he was arrested.

Peyton, of no fixed abode, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to going equipped for theft, attempted theft of a bike, criminal damage and two counts of bike theft. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and must pay £200 in compensation.

PC Jessica Freeman, from the Cambridge city neighbourhood policing team, said: “Thanks to CCTV operators working in the city centre, we were able to catch Peyton and put him before the courts with a wealth of video evidence of him carrying out multiple crimes.”