iStockA Good Samaritan who stopped to help a man fix a bike realised mid-repair that it was his own bicycle that had been stolen.
John Devlin, 64, was fixing the handlebars when he recognised it was his own bike due to the distinctive stickers and helmet attached to it.
He then said “that’s my bike” before chasing the thief down the street.
Paul Hartey, 46, had earlier stolen the bike from Mr Devlin’s shed in Glasgow’s Drumchapel on June 18.
On Wednesday, Hartey pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to forcing open a lockfast shed. He also admitted having a knife without a reasonable excuse or lawful authority.
Sheriff Johanna Johnston QC jailed Hartey for 15 months.
The court heard Mr Devlin’s wife, Linda, woke up at 6.30am to see the shed door broken and items strewn everywhere.
Mr Devlin headed home ten minutes later from a nightshift.
Prosecutor Shona Howie said: “He saw Hartey on the street looking like he [was] trying to fix a bike on his hands and knees.
“Mr Devlin stopped and said ‘do you need a hand, I will help you fix it’.”
Hartey complained that the handlebars were not working.
Ms Howie added: “As he tried to fix it, Mr Devlin recognised [the] stickers and helmet attached to the bike.
“He recognised it to be his bike and said ‘that’s my bike’.”
Hartey pulled out a knife before making off and was tailed by Mr Devlin.
A 999 call was made and Hartey was later apprehended.
Keith Tuck, defending, told the court Hartey had been under the influence of drugs and cannot recall the incident.
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