McDonald's restaurant in Ashington, Northumberland (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

A bike thief was tracked down after the young victim's mum made an appeal on a community Facebook page. James Snowdon had stolen the pedal cycle, which belonged to a 12-year-old boy, from outside McDonald's, in Ashington , and thought he'd try and make some quick cash.

A court heard that the 19-year-old sold the £600 bike to a woman for £50 but hadn't fathomed that the victim's mother would post an appeal for information as to its whereabout on Facebook page "Ashington's Getting Warse". The person who had bought the stolen pedal cycle saw the post, recognised it and immediately went back to Snowdon to demand her money back, prosecutors said.

She also returned the bike to the rightful owner and passed o

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