A COURAGEOUS schoolboy took the law into his own hands and successfully confronted a thief who had stolen his mountain bike in Hereford.

Edward Kendrick, 15, was walking home from school when he noticed the thief riding his modified Saracen mountain bike which had been taken days earlier.

The plucky teenager confronted drug user Duncan John Winston Goodfield, 29, and was given his bike, valued at £650, back.

“I don’t know whether he is stupid or brave,” said Edward’s mother Karen Pardoe.

“He went over to two men on the other side of the road and confronted the one who had his bike telling him he wanted it back.

“Ed has had two of his bikes pinched in the last three years so to have his newest bike taken took the biscuit for him and he wanted it back.”

The bike had been stolen on October 10, at 9.20pm when Edward and his friend rode their bikes to the city’s Sainsbury’s supermarket leaving them unlocked outside.

When he returned, his bike had gone and after reporting the incident Edward made his way home.

At 10pm the same evening, Edward spotted a man on what he knew was his bike because of the modifications and began to run after him.

Goodfield sped off out of sight.

However, Edward spotted the same man again when he got the bike back.

Goodfield, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Hereford Magistrates Court last week to stealing the bike.

He also pleaded guilty to stealing a dehumidifier valued £100 belonging to Aldi on the same evening.

Marilena Di Vitantonio, defending Goodfield in court, said that her client accepted the theft but denied causing
damage to the bike.

She said: “He can’t remember anything from October 11, he just woke up and the items were there.

“He went out for a drink with a friend and perhaps he was spiked as he can’t remember anything at all.”

Goodfield also admitted in court theft by finding of an Indecit washer drier valued at £329 belonging to Herefordshire Housing.

Magistrates ordered Goodfield to complete a six months community order with five days of rehabilitation activity.

He was also ordered to pay compensation to Aldi of £100, £167.99 for the damaged bike, £329 to Herefordshire
Housing, £185 costs and a £85 victim surcharge.

Ms Pardoe added that her son Edward used the bike to travel to and from school and to football matches he referees.

Karen added: “A young lad pinched his first bike and rode it into the river.

"Ed jumped in after it and had to be pulled out as he was drowning but he never got that bike back.

“His dad brought him a second bike which somebody cut the lock to from outside our house.

“He had a lot of work done to his new bike so was gutted when it was stolen.

“I couldn’t be more proud of him for going to get it back.”