A MAN who stole a Kawasaki ER-5 motorbike from Sutton-in-Craven narrowly avoided being sent to prison by Skipton magistrates.

Sevi Conley, 22, together with a youth, attempted to steal the £1,200 motorbike, and was seen pushing it along Gatering Lane in the early hours of July 20, the court heard on Tuesday.

The police were called and officers carried out a search of the area, but despite finding the bike, failed to locate Conley and the youth.

Forensic testing however of the bike found Conley's finger prints on its fuel tank, the court heard.

Conley, who admitted theft, had 13 previous convictions for a total of 28 offences, and had spent a 'good part of his youth' in custody.

The court heard he had been to a party in Cross Hills, had limited recollection of what had happened, and taking the bike may have been 'tomfoolery' or a need to get transport to get home to Keighley.

In mitigation, Saf Salam asked magistrates to draw back from an immediate custodial sentence and said what Conley needed was help so he could lead a better life for his partner and two children.

Magistrates told Conley, of Sunny Dale Grove, Keighley, that a prison van had been waiting outside the court for him, and only the words of Mr Salam had saved him from being sent into custody.

As a direct alternative to prison, they handed him a 12 month community order with 19 sessions of thinking skills and up to 10 rehabilitation requirement activity days. He will also be subject to a 16 week curfew confining him to his house between 7pm and 7am. In addition, he will have to pay costs of £200 and a surcharge of £85.

A youth, who admitted theft of a motor vehicle and also resisting a police officer in the execution of his duty, was sent to Bradford Magistrates Court to be sentenced on January 8.