A man was sentenced on yesterday (August 8) after he attempted to steal a quad bike from a riding centre near Pateley Bridge. 

Christian Kmiotek pleaded guilty to burglary other than at a dwelling with intent to steal during the hearing at Harrogate Magistrates Court.

Alison Whiteley, prosecuting, told the court Bewerley Riding Centre was broken into at some point between 9.30am and 7pm on December 28, 2023.

She said Kmiotek, of Goodison Boulevard in Doncaster, had broken into a shed at the centre where he tried to steal a quad bike.

The quad bike was not stolen, but the defendant’s DNA was found on wiring that was left exposed. 

A rucksack was also left at the scene.

Ms Whiteley said the quad bike required a new ignition switch after the incident, which cost the riding centre £65. 

Kmiotek, 47, declined to comment during a police interview.

He has six convictions on his record, most recently at Lincoln Crown Court, where he was last month handed a suspended sentence.

‘He found himself in debt with people you do not want to get into debt with’

Andrew Tinning, defending, told the court the offence happened at a time when Kmiotek found himself in debt with “people you do not want to get into debt with”.

They told Kmiotek he could repay his debt by other means, including assisting with the burglary.

The court heard the defendant helped to "hotwire the quad bike and left his DNA at the scene" as a result.

Kmiotek did not have any prior knowledge of the riding centre, Mr Tinning said.

A probation officer told the magistrates Kmiotek was given a curfew as part of his recent suspended sentence, which he has so far complied with.

The chair of the magistrates told Kmiotek the bench “did not feel it was in the interest of justice to have two orders running over two jurisdictions”.

Instead, they fined Kmiotek a total of £598.

This comprised a £320 fine, a £128 surcharge, £85 in prosecution costs and £65 in compensation for Bewerley Riding Centre.