Bike Swipe Thief Tracked down

A successful businessman at Smithfield Market has been fined for stealing a £7,000 super bike and stripping it down at his Essex home.

Adam Murphy, 27, of Boyles Court Cottage, Dark Lane, Great Warley, Brentwood was caught when the motorcycle’s tracker device led police to his garage.

He pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates’ Court to stealing the 600cc Yamaha R6 from a car park near the market on June 30.

Prosecutor Ms Safira Afzal told the court the motorcycle’s owner Paul Ward locked and secured the Yamaha at 7am in West Smithfield, but was alerted three hours later by the tracker that it was moving.

He rushed to the car park, but the motorcycle had gone.

At 4.30pm the same day Essex Police traced the Yamaha to Murphy’s home and he was arrested.

“It had been stripped bare and concealed under a cloth,” said Ms Afzal.

The court heard Murphy, who has shares in two businesses at the world-famous meat market, admit he was: “Incredibly stupid on that day and is embarrassed by his arrest and prosecution.”

He puts in eight-hour shifts five days a week starting at 1.30am and has worked very hard at building up his businesses and bought his own home.

Murphy confessed that he saw the opportunity to take the bike, despite having the money to buy one of his own.

“It is a crazy thing that you have done,” bench chairman Doug Rice told the defendant. “The bike was locked-up and the owner is wondering where it is an when found it is smashed up.”

Murphy was fined £2,000, ordered to pay £3,000 compensation to Mr. Ward and £100 costs.

“We do not want to see you back in court,” added the magistrate. “You have got successful businesses, it was a stupid thing to do.”