A MOTORBIKE enthusiast found himself on the wrong side of the law when he bought a bike he knew to be stolen.

Sam Jennings abandoned the Yamaha motorcycle in a garden when he struggled to make his way home in the snow.

He was arrested by police after fingerprints lifted from the bike were a match to his.

Jennings, of Church Street in Crosland Moor, admitted a charge of handling stolen goods when he appeared before Kirklees magistrates in Huddersfield yesterday.

The 23-year-old also pleaded guilty to charges of driving without insurance and possession of class B drugs cannabis and MCAT.

Magistrates heard that on January 20 police received a call from a family living at Hulbert Croft in Almondbury.

They reported that a motorbike had been left in their garden.

At the time police were investigating after a bike was taken from a shed in Shepley earlier in the month.

Vanessa Schofield, prosecuting, said: “The motorbike was forensically examined.

“Three fingerprints were recovered from the front mudguard and lamp surround.

“It was these fingerprints that led to the defendant being arrested.”

Jennings was arrested and said that he bought the bike from a friend, although admitted that he knew it had been stolen.

He also told officers that he had ridden the motorbike without any insurance.

Magistrates heard that the labourer was also found in possession of drugs in a car he was travelling in on January 11.

The vehicle was stopped by police on routine patrol at Northgate in Almondbury.

Ms Schofield said: “The defendant was a passenger inside, they spoke to the occupants and could smell cannabis.

“As a result a search of the vehicle was carried out.

“They found a small amount of cannabis under a seat and another quantity in a Morrison’s bag.”

The bench heard that following his arrest for the stolen goods matter police found some white powder at Jennings’ home, which turned out to be MCAT.

Mike Sisson-Pell, mitigating, said that his client had paid a reasonable price for the bike.

She said he was taking it home when it was snowing and so he decided to leave it at a former girlfriend’s home.

Mr Sisson-Pell said: “His intention was to pick it up the following day. However the family had seen it and, knowing that it was not theirs, called police.

“It was examined by an expert who lifted prints and these were found to be his.”

The bench gave him a community order for 12 months with 60 hours of unpaid work.

The order also includes an activity requirement which will address Jennings’ drugs issues and help him train for work.

They also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and that he pays £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge.

Finally, Jennings was told that his licence will be endorsed with eight penalty points.