Police officers in Cumbria managed to track down a stolen motorcycle after the thief advertised the bike for sale on Facebook, a court heard.

Sam Lowe, 20, pleaded guilty to ‘theft by finding’ after taking a Suzuki GT250M from a backstreet in Barrow while walking his dog in January.

The GT250M, which belonged to Sean Gibson and was described as looking like scrap but actually a collector’s item, was reported as stolen on April 29th.

After attempting to restore the bike, Mr Lowe advertised the bike on Facebook after failing to get it going. Police were alerted when a buyer for the bike asked for a logbook, only to be told by Mr Lowe that he did not have one and that he had it for off-road use only.

Mr Mike Graham, defending, told the North West Evening Mail: “The defendant did come across the motorbike during hours of daylight. It was found propped against a wall. He took the view that nobody wanted it.

“The plea of guilty is entered on the basis that he should have made enquiries. Any reasonable person reviewing the situation must have thought the bike had some value, even if it was only as scrap. He didn’t do anything sophisticated, he displayed it on Facebook for sale.”

Mr Lowe was fined £85 and ordered to pay £45 towards court costs and a £15 victim surcharge, along with repaying the £100 he gained from selling the bike.