A MAN has appeared at court for handling stolen goods after he bought a motorbike "from a friend" that had been wired to start without a key.

John David McGloen told magistrates "he knew in the back of his mind" that the motorbike was probably stolen, but he bought it in good faith.

The 39-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence and a further charge of failing to comply with a community order at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Alan Davison, prosecuting, said: "A motorcycle was stolen from EE in South Tyneside on October 29 last year.

"A staff worker finished work and found that it was not where he had parked it.

"Two weeks later police looking for the defendant arrested him and found the motorcycle at his address."

The court heard that McGloen had also failed to carry out unpaid work on a number of occasions, placing him in breach of his previous community order.

Jaxon Taylor, mitigating, said: "He bought the motorbike in good faith from a good friend that he considered trustworthy.

"However, he says that as the bike came with no key and had been wired to start without one, he knew in the back of his mind it probably was stolen, hence his guilty plea here today."

Keith Richardson, chair of the bench, revoked McGloen's current community order and resentenced him to another a 12 month community order.

McGloen, of Bailey Rise, Peterlee, must also carry out 50 hours unpaid work, pay £85 court costs and £90 victim surcharge.