Benjamin Trayford has been jailed after he left his bike at a Nisa in Eldern and stole someone else's.

Trayford, 31, was caught on CCTV on March 9 cycling outside of the Nisa.

He can be seen stopping next to another bike, cutting the lock, and cycling away on the stolen bike, while his original bike was left abandoned. 

Two weeks later, on March 23, a neighbourhood officer was patrolling Tesco in Serpentine Green, Hampton, when they were approached by members of staff.

The staff told the officer that they were monitoring Trayford as he was acting suspiciously.

The officer approached Trayford, as he had been identified from the Nisa CCTV footage, and he was arrested on suspicion of theft of a pedal cycle.

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Trayford, of Brudenell, Orton Goldhay, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday (25 March), and was sentenced to four weeks in prison after admitting the theft.

He has also been ordered to pay £250 in compensation to the victim.

PC Jen Jenkins, who investigated, said: “This was a moment of opportunity for Trayford, and he didn’t think twice before committing the offence.

“Bikes are extremely important for cyclists as they are often their main form of transport, and therefore I would like to encourage cyclists to look into the best ways to protect their bikes when it comes to leaving them.”