Man, 45, jailed for 20 weeks for having offensive weapon and stealing bikes in Basingstoke

A man has been jailed for 20 weeks for having an offensive weapon and stealing two bikes which belonged to children in Basingstoke.

Stuart Johnston, 45, of no fixed abode, was charged with possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and two counts of theft of a pedal cycle.

It comes after officers received a report that a man had an offensive weapon – a broken glass bottle – in Flaxfield Road, Basingstoke, on 11 November.

Meanwhile, a bicycle was stolen from the Poundland store in Festival Place after a customer, a 12-year-old boy, placed it by the entrance on 15 October.

Another bicycle, which belonged to a 13-year-old boy, was stolen from the M&S in Festival Place in similar circumstances on 31 October.

Johnston pleaded guilty to the three offences and was jailed for a total of 20 weeks at Basingstoke Magistrates Court yesterday (13 November).