A THIEF who stole bikes and other items from stations in Crow Country has had his criminal career derailed by an ASBO. Scott Franklin, 35, was handed an anti-social behaviour order after he was caught on camera trying to remove a bike he had stolen and hi

A THIEF who stole bikes and other items from stations in Crow Country has had his criminal career derailed by an ASBO.

Scott Franklin, 35, was handed an anti-social behaviour order after he was caught on camera trying to remove a bike he had stolen and hidden the day before at Arlesey station. He is now banned from entering any station car park in the country for the next three years, and is precluded from travelling on the rail network with a bike or bolt cutters.

Over the course of six months between July 2009 and January 2010, Franklin stole bikes and broke into cars at stations including Royston and Meldreth, nabbing satellite navigation systems, MP3 players, car stereos, laptops and mobile phones.

At a hearing at Stevenage Magistrates' Court last week, Franklin, of Poplar, east London, pleaded guilty to eight bike thefts and three thefts from motor vehicles.

He also had a further 17 offences taken into consideration, which included 10 thefts and two attempted thefts from motor vehicles, four bike thefts and one offence of going equipped with the intention to steal.

Pc Tim Tubbs, from British Transport Police (BTP) said that Franklin was caught red-handed after operators at the First Capital Connect CCTV Centre in Edmonton spotted him trying to remove the bike at Arlesey on January 5.

He said: "CCTV operators spotted Franklin removing a bike, which he had stolen and hidden in a grass verge the day before.

"We were called to attend the station and when his bag was searched Franklin was found to be in the possession of bolt croppers, which he admitted were his and had been used to steal the bike."

After being questioned by BTP officers, it was ascertained that he would travel from Finsbury Park station, north London, and target provincial stations.

In addition to his ASBO, Franklin received a 24-week jail sentence, suspended for a 12 months, along with another 20-week sentence to run concurrently.

Under supervised probation he was also ordered to attend a high-intensive drugs treatment programme for six months.

Pc Tubbs added: "Franklin's actions caused misery to many commuters but thanks to CCTV and close working with First Capital Connect his movements on the railway have been suitably restricted."

Anyone who spots Franklin breaching his ASBO should contact the BTP on 0800 40 50 40.