A thief was referred yesterday to the Drug Treatment Court after he admitted stealing two motorbikes for drugs money.

Treadwell Smith, 35, also pleaded guilty in Magistrates’ Court to causing more than $600 worth of damage to one of the stolen motorcycles.

The court heard that Smith stole a Honda Click from the City Hall car park in Hamilton on August 31 last year.

The owner reported the theft and Smith was later arrested.

Smith was also stopped by police on February 14 that same year after they saw him wheeling a motorcycle along Par-La-Ville Road.

Smith told officers that the bike was his, but they were unconvinced and arrested him on suspicion of theft.

The owner of the bike was contacted and retrieved the machine, but discovered that its handlebars, which had been locked, were damaged.

Smith apologised to the owner and offered to pay compensation for the damage, which totalled about $608.

Smith, from Devonshire, was charged with the offences last year.

At first he denied the charges but changed his plea yesterday.

Smith told the court that he had a problem with cocaine and stole the bikes for drugs money.

He added that he wanted to get help for his addiction because it had damaged his relationship with his family.

Senior magistrate Juan Wolffe adjourned the case until today for Smith to observe the Drug Treatment Court.

The court also heard that Smith owed $850 in fines from an unrelated offence. He was ordered to pay them by January 31.

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