A PLASTICS manufacturer that had a £16,000 machine stolen in a burglary was offered it back for £15.
Thieves cut through a fence at Bericap Ltd in Oslo Road, east Hull, and climbed into the maintenance room through a window, sometime between August 20 and 21.
As well as the £16,000 particle counter, they stole two-way radios, mobile phones and other equipment, with a total value of £32,000.
Hull Crown Court heard that Sarah Smith, who was on duty the next day, was "fed up" by the interference on the remaining walkie-talkies and was then told about the break in.
She heard further interference that night, and then a message naming "Jason Myers" as the person responsible for "robbing your unit", Stephen Welch, prosecuting, said.
The caller then offered to sell the machine "for £15".
Police arrested Mr Myers but found nothing during a search of his home.
But Josh Harraway, 20, came under suspicion and when officers paid him a visit, he ran off, only to be detained after a short chase.
When his home in Stroud Crescent East, Bransholme, was searched, police found the particle counter, and screwdrivers and spanners belonging to engineers working for Bericap in his shed.
Fingerprints found at the site of the burglary did not match Harraway's or Myers's.
One of the mobile phones stolen had been used to call Harraway.
When Myers was interviewed, he denied any responsibility and said his name had been put forward because of his "reputation".
Harraway made no comment in interview, but admitted handling stolen goods when he appeared before magistrates.
He had a conviction for burglary when he was a juvenile.
Wendy Foster, defending, said: "His best mitigation is he pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and he's still a young man.
"He accepts he was foolish in agreeing to store the stolen goods, and that's something he regrets."
Miss Foster said Harraway had been troubled by depression since the death of grandfather.
She said: "He would like to assure the court that his actions in August will not be repeated."
Sentencing him to a 12-month community order, Judge Mark Bury told Harraway: "You agreed to take into your shed a valuable piece of stolen property.
"Whether you knew it was quite as valuable as it was, I don't know.
"It's said that you were to get no financial reward yourself.
"It's also said that you are easily led, and I think that's true.
"I'm not going to send you to prison today, but I might in the future.
"Despite the fact that you are young and you have no real previous convictions, this was a serious offence because the value of the property was quite high."
The judge warned Harraway he would be sent to a young offenders' institution for nine months if he breached the order.
