A PROLIFIC criminal who was found with four stolen bicycles worth nearly £4,000 has been jailed.

Paul Akred landed himself in court after he was found with the bikes at his home in Barrow.

The 42-year-old was also found with cocaine when police officers searched his home.

Akred was due to stand trial at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court for receiving stolen property but changed his plea to guilty on the day.

The bikes, which were recovered, were owned by Darren Finlayson.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre told magistrates that Akred committed the offence on September 28.

He said: "The complainant contacted the police reporting that when he got home he found four bikes he owns were missing.

"The windows of the garage where they were kept had been smashed."

Mr Dacre said the bikes were then found at Akred's home in Abbey Road.

"They were recovered and returned to the owner," Mr Dacre said.

The court heard that one of the bikes taken was worth £2,000, two were valued at £800 and one £200.

While police were at the property they found with a white powder on and a snap bag containing white powder.

"That was confirmed to be cocaine," Mr Dacre said.

The court heard Akred had a criminal record stretching back to more than 150 previous offences, including incidents of burglary and shoplifting.

He was jailed for 12 weeks in August after he stole alcohol and power tools from two shops.

Defending, Michael Graham, said: "A reasonable person should’ve known they were stolen items and he concedes that now."

Mr Graham said Akred had previously had substance abuse problems and was working to address them before the offences.

"Things were looking OK for him," he said.

"There seems to have been a slip up here.

"He wants to put this matter behind him."

Magistrates, led by chair of the bench Gary Ormondroyd, jailed Akred for 14 weeks.

Mr Ormondroyd said: "The custodial sentence is appropriate due to your extensive and lengthy record of similar offences for dishonesty."

Akred was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £128 and costs of £150.