THIEVES who travelled from Bolton to rural Wales to steal a quad bike were caught when they tried to sell it to police on eBay.

At Caernafon Crown Court Wayne Dean, aged 37, of Barnes Close, Farnworth, was jailed for 14 months after admitting burglary, and 23-year-old Ben Robinson, of Coniston Avenue, Farnworth, received a 20-month prison term after pleading guilty to the offence and an unconnected fraud.

Judge Philip Hughes was told how Dean and Robinson drove to Llanllechid near Bangor on January 21. They targeted a farm outbuilding and stole the quad bike which was being stored there by owner Philip Davies.

They loaded the £3,600 bike into a van, the court heard.

When Mr Hughes realised his bike was missing he contacted police, but the following day he spotted a quad bike similar to his being offered for sale on the internet auction site eBay.

Police posing as potential buyers contacted the seller and visited an address in Bolton. After identifying the quad bike as the one stolen from Wales, they arrested Dean and Robinson.

Judge Hughes accepted that Dean and Robinson had planned the burglary rather than it being an opportunistic crime.

Welcoming the sentences, Sgt Rob Taylor said: "Regardless of where thieves originate, or stolen property ends up, we will bring you to justice.

"Some criminals may think rural policing is more akin to ‘Heartbeat’, but this case clearly demonstrates the speed, lengths and technical weight we bring to our investigations.”