A CWMBRAN man with an “unenviable” criminal record has been spared further prison time for handling stolen goods after a man was robbed of his bike in Newport.

Recorder Huw Rees said he was giving 24-year-old Richard Dyas a chance, after he admitted riding a bike, knowing it had been stolen just moments before.

Dyas, who appeared via video link at Cardiff Crown Court, is currently serving a 12-week sentence for a domestic violence incident of common assault.

John Lloyd, prosecuting, said the defendant, of Maendy Way, was initially arrested on suspicion of robbery, but was later charged with handling stolen goods after it emerged he had not robbed the victim of his bike.

Mr Lloyd told the court: “The complainant was riding a bike down a lane at the rear of Newport bus station when he approached a group of people.

“As he cycled past, he was violently push off the bike by an individual, not the defendant.

“There were two men involved who pushed him and threatened him and told him to hand over his bike.”

He then made off and Dyas took the bike and rode it a “short distance” across the Millennium Bridge, where the group met up with three other men.

Mr Lloyd said: “He had the bike for a matter of minutes, probably less than 15 and then immediately disposed of it to the other three men.”

In mitigation, barrister Nigel Fryer said his client had “apologised profusely”.

“This was in his words, irresponsible and foolish,” he added. He said his client had an “unenviable” criminal record, of which 19 crimes had taken place before 2008.

Recorder Rees told Dyasthe defendant: “The victim was doing nothing wrong, he came across a group of people including you. “I accept you didn’t push him (the victim) off the bike and you didn’t steal the bike but when you saw what happened, to him you quickly took advantage of the situation, albeit for a short time.

“You knew he was the subject of a robbery, the impact on him was quite severe. He’s never going to cycle that route again, that’s the affect your behaviour has on innocent people.

“It could have been his only means of transport.

“I’m giving you a chance. I’ll tell you this, if you come back in front of me I’ll send you to prison.”

Dyas was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for 12 months and will be subject to a year-long supervision order, a thinking skills project and 100 hours of community service. He will be released from prison on March 23.