A JUDGE has made an unusual bargain with burglar Brett Harvey - he must sell his moped if he wants to stay out of jail.

Harvey was told to bring the proceeds to court, to pay compensation for the booze he stole.

District Judge Sheraton told 31-year-old Harvey: “If you come back to court empty handed, you can expect to go to prison.

“But if you come with �205, it is more likely you will be given unpaid work.”

The court heard how Harvey had been riding his silver moped, dressed in a silver crash helmet, when he stopped outside a property in Heron Walk at March, and helped himself to bottles of alcohol on January 10.

Prosecutor Emma Duckett told the judge at Wisbech courthouse: “A member of the public walking their dog saw the defendant arrive.

“He went through an open garage door, the witness was suspicious so kept watch.

“He saw the defendant come out with something under his jacket and heard the clinking of bottles; he challenged the defendant, who rode off at speed.”

Harvey, of Eastwood Avenue, March, admitted stealing five bottles of whisky and five bottles of red wine, worth a total of �120.

Mitigating, solicitor Tiffany Meredith said: “He pleads guilty on the basis that he stole the whisky, he did not touch any wine. He sold the whisky and made a profit of �30.”

She said Harvey was a long term heroin user, who lost his job just before Christmas, and had no income.

Judge Sheraton told Harvey that he would be expected to pay �120 in compensation and �85 court costs.

Sentencing was adjourned until February 15 to give him time to sell the moped, and for the probation service to prepare a report.