Bike thief is taking steps to change life (From Malvern Gazette)

Bike thief is taking steps to change life

6:20pm Tuesday 5th February 2013 in News By Elizabeth Sweetman, @lizsweetmanWN #worcsnews

A RECOVERING heroin addict who stole two bicycles from a Worcestershire train station is taking steps to change his life, a court was told.

Nicholas McNeilage, aged 25, of Oakfield Road, Malvern, pleaded guilty to stealing two bicycles from Malvern Link train station and possessing heroin, a class A drug.

Kerry Lovegrove, prosecuting at Worcester Magistrates Court, said police received a call from a member of the public on January 6 who had seen McNeilage carrying two bicycle security chains. On arrival at the station, Miss Lovegrove said McNeilage told police he was “trying to nick a bike” because his was taken.

She said: “They found two insecure mountain bikes. He had taken the locks off using a metal bar.”

McNeilage was searched and police found a foil wrap.

Miss Lovegrove said the following day the owner of one of the bikes came forward and it was returned to him.

She said both bikes had been recovered and police were still waiting for the owner of the second bike to claim it.

Mark Sheward, defending, said McNeilage had been a addicted to heroin for about nine years but had visited Pathways – an organisation that helps people with drug addictions – and was now on a methadone script.

Mr Sheward said: “At the time of the commission of this offence, the methadone script was fairly low, it wasn’t holding him. He went back to Pathways and they increased it and it does hold him.

“He has not used heroin now for some time, he is able to rely on the methadone.

“Life is certainly looking a lot rosier than before.

“He recognises he need to change and is moving in the right direction.”

McNeilage was made the subject of a nine-month supervision order and ordered to pay £85 costs and £14.99 compensation for the bicycle lock.