A Stoke-on-Trent man has been jailed after admitting a string of offences including motorbike theft and burglary.

Ian Pawlowski, 44, of Ball Green, appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday 20 May) and was jailed for three years after admitting:

• Two counts of theft of a motor vehicle
• One count of burglary
• One count of fraud by false representation
• One count of acquire / use / possess criminal property
• Two counts of driving while disqualified
• One count of criminal damage
• One count of possession of a controlled drug of class B – cannabis.

Pawlowski stole from people in Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Biddulph between May and September last year.

PC Jonathan Martin, from the City Problem Solving and Intervention Team, said: "Pawlowski has no doubt caused widespread emotional, financial and mental damage to a number of people living and working locally in Staffordshire.

"We are working around the clock to stop prolific thieves who are preying on the belongings of the communities we proudly serve."

Staffordshire Police explained that in the first incident, Pawlowski took a Honda VRF from Peter Cartlidge Grove.

At the scene, officers found him trying to start the engine before trying to run off. He was arrested after he tripped on the kerb and in custody, officers found cannabis on him.

He also took a Lexmoto Adrenaline from Liverpool Road in Newcastle-under-Lyme, which was later found on Brindley Street secured with a chain, as well as a bank card from a Vauxhall Corsa which he tried to use to pay for items at a petrol station in Higherland, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

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Staffordshire Police explained that he also forced his way into Powerslide Motorcycles on London Road, Stoke-on-Trent. He took a Honda CBR600 RR5 and a KTM 530 EXC.

On Bucknall New Road, a Land Rover Discovery was also stolen and Pawlowski was later seen leaving the driver's seat of the car on CCTV after extensive damage was caused to the wheels.

The car had been left on Mayfield Avenue and was recovered.

In Biddulph, Pawlowski was seen on CCTV driving a stolen Skoda Octavia, which had been taken from Highfield Road West, Biddulph, in June.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "After compiling all of the evidence, we were able to secure a number of charges against Pawlowski and bring him before a jury.

"Despite his attempts to plead innocent, our evidence meant that he was found guilty on nine separate counts."