TWO teenagers and a man who went on a two-week crime spree stole £10,000 worth of mopeds and push bikes across Warrington and Runcorn.

Tre Freeman, of Calgarth Avenue in Bewsey, Patrick Kenneally of Trafford Avenue in Bewsey and Samuel Tierney, Chilington Avenue in Widnes committed the crimes in January 2019.

They appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday to be sentenced.

Prosecutor Kevin Jones told the court how a man witnessed the three defendants trying to steal a moped from The Decks in Runcorn.

The bike was secured with a lock and chain and the man phoned the police.

A police helicopter was deployed and officers saw the three defendants on a moped heading towards Warrington.

They were followed to Sankey Valley Park where they dumped the bike and ran away but were later arrested.

Another moped was recovered and this had a false number plate attached.

It had been stolen earlier in the month and text messages on Kenneally’s mobile phone revealed that other bikes, parts and mopeds had been stolen from various locations.

£4,900 worth of bike parts had been stolen from a shed in Great Sankey but these were never recovered.

28-year-old Kenneally, who has nine previous convictions for 12 offences, had also searched online for bolt cutters and images of the stolen goods were posted on social media.

He also faced a charge of handling stolen goods after taking the key of a Ford Fiesta he knew to be stolen from Warrington.

Freeman was aged 16 at the time, while Tierney was 17.

Philip Tully, defending Samuel Tierney, told the court that his client made a ‘foolish decision’ after being promised a financial gain from the thefts.

He said: “This never materialised and he told me he wanted to help his mother out financially but this has now cost more problems.

“He understands and accepts what he did was wrong.

“Before the pandemic he had a job in a hotel and is enrolled at Cronton College on a business course.

“His tutors say he is a very intelligent and hardworking young man.”

Judge Patrick Thompson said: “You don’t realise what an inconvenience this has caused people, and how upsetting and distressing having something that you have worked hard for taken away from you.

“Your childhood years are over and you need to grow up.

“You will be sent to an adult prison if you reoffend and that is not a place you will enjoy.

“The public are sick and tired of these offences and it will not be tolerated.

“Your ages and immaturity are keeping you from being sent to prison today.”

Kenneally was handed a nine-month sentence suspended for 18 months and will have to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and a 60-day rehabilitation activity.

Tierney and Freeman were both sentenced to six months suspended for 18 months in a young offender’s institute and will do 150 hours of unpaid work and a 40-day rehabilitation activity.