Cambridge bike thief handed suspended prison sentence

A 40-year-old man who stole five bikes in Cambridge has been sentenced.

John Bruce Miller, of Highdene Road, was captured on CCTV stealing the bikes, which were all locked, from Corpus Christi College, Downing College, Perry Cury, Severn Place and Sandy Lane between 28 May and 8 July.

He was also captured on CCTV stealing a pair of bolt croppers from B&Q in Newmarket Road on 6 July as well as goods including deodorant, coffee and frozen meals from Co-Ops in Perne Road, and Cambourne, and Nisa in Teversham Drift between 25 June and 6 July.

Miller was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 20 months at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 26 July after pleading guilty to eight counts of breaching a criminal behaviour order, five counts of bike theft, five counts of theft from a shop and one count of criminal damage. He must also pay £100 compensation to the five bike theft victims.

Miller’s Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) runs until 25 April 2025 and states he must not:

- Be in possession of any pedal cycle or pedal cycle part without proof of ownership in the form of a verifiable receipt

- Be in possession of any article used to steal pedal cycles in a public place

PC Luke Upcott, from the Spree Offending Team, said: “We recognise the harm that is caused when a cycle is stolen and we’re working hard to reduce cycle crime and put offenders like Miller before the courts.”