A TRUSTING 'Oliver Twist'-type character from Welshpool was 'duped' into looking after a stolen mountain bike worth nearly £2,500.

Andreas Peate, 20, of Cae Glas, Welshpool pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods when he appeared at the town's magistrates court.

Anouska Youds, prosecuting, said the victim had bought the bicycle in 2015 for £2,400 and it was kept in a machine shed in Welshpool where he noticed it was missing earlier this year.

Police were investigating Peate for another matter when they noticed an attempt being made to sell the bike online from his address.

They found the bike there, which was an identical match to the stolen bike.

Peate told officers he had bought the bike from a male he did not know at Welshpool skate park, but when told it was stolen, said that he had been told to look after it by a male he had met only a few times, and was told to say, if anyone asked, that he had bought it.

Brendan Reedy, defending, read out a number of character references on Peate's behalf, saying that he was incredibly naive, and had been duped into looking after the bike.

He suggested Peate could have been cautioned by police instead of being brought to court, adding that having been home-schooled he may have had a slightly sheltered upbringing.

"He is not worldly-wise. He is an extremely naive young man, so much so it is incredible," Mr Reedy said.

"The bicycle wasn't stolen by him, he was asked to look after it.

"He was befriended by several other local people in Welshpool, well-known to police, and he took these people at face value – he is a bit like Oliver Twist."

Mr Reedy added: "He didn't advertise it (the bike), one of his associates did. He has not made any money from this at all. He was clearly coerced into this, he was duped."

He added that Peate was heavily involved in community work with the church, and had volunteered to help with the big clean-up when the hospital in Welshpool had flooded.

Chair of the magistrates bench Judith Baker gave Peate a nine-month conditional discharge.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £21 victim surcharge.