A DAFT crook stole a credit card and then tried to buy trainers worth hundreds of pounds online.

Liam Martin tried twice to buy expensive trainers from JD Sports for himself with a card he had stolen from another man.

The 19-year-old of Beambridge, Pitsea stole the card along with a Apple MacPro computer from a man in Basildon in March 2019.

Martin then tried to use the card twice on March 27 on the JD Sports website in the hope of buying two pairs of trainers, worth a total of £224.98.

On the same day, Martin went to convenience stores in Basildon and tried to buy various different items of food and drink, using the card by contactless payments.

Martin visited three stores and spent £51.83 in total on the items.

Less than a week later, Martin sold on the stolen computer to a third party for £170 in cash, keeping the money for himself.

The thefts happened just under a month after Martin had stolen a bicycle which was secured by a member of the public in the centre of Basildon.

Martin stole the bike on March 6 worth a total of £330.

All of the thefts were reported to the police who carried out an investigation.

Payments on the stolen card were identified and traced back to Martin.

He was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of fraud by false representation, handling stolen goods and theft of a pedal cycle.

His case was listed for the theft in March last year, and Martin failed to attend, and was convicted in his absence.

In February this year, Martin stood trial over the counts of fraud and handling stolen goods, denying he had ever taken the card and computer.

However, he was convicted on February 26, and a pre-sentence report was prepared by probation

The court also heard that Martin had failed to attend two appointments imposed by a community order given to him in January 2020 for previous crimes.

At Basildon Magistrates’ Court yesterday, chair of the magistrates’ bench Jenny Johnson gave Martin and two-year community order.

This includes 50 days of rehabilitation activity and he must also complete a thinking skills programme, along with 150 hours of unpaid work within that time.

Mrs Johnson also ordered Martin to pay £330 compensation to the owner of the bike, and £170 compensation to the owner of the credit card and computer.

If he fails to repay the money or complete the community order he could face being re-sentenced for his crimes.