A man who attempted to steal a bike in Norwich to help raise funds was confronted by the owner who held him until police arrived, a court has heard.

Brandon Hand, 20, had been living in a tent when he spotted the cycle, understood to be worth £1,000, locked in a bike rack on Dove Street.

Dove Street, NorwichDove Street, Norwich (Image: Newsquest) Norwich Crown Court heard Hand pulled the lock apart and stole the cycle while the owner and his family were eating at a nearby restaurant.

But Hand was seen taking the bike by members of the public and the owner ran over to Hand and confronted the defendant before detaining him until police arrived.

When he committed the offence, on June 20 this year, Hand was in breach of a suspended prison sentence - 20 weeks suspended for 12 months - imposed in February this year.

It was after he, along with others, admitted affray in relation to an incident where a man was attacked by another group in the city.

Hand, formerly of Winalls Yard, Norwich, appeared at court on Thursday (September 19) after admitting theft of a cycle as well as being in breach of a suspended sentence.

John Morgans, mitigating, said Hand was "ashamed" to be back at court awaiting sentence for another offence.

He said Hand had a "wretched" childhood where both parents were drug users who were involved in the sale of drugs and even "involved [Hand]" in that too.

He said while he previously had accommodation at the YMCA he had since lost that and "for the past six weeks he's been living in a tent".

Mr Morgans said he took the bike as he "wanted to raise some funds" and at the time was "drinking to block out the miserable nature of his life".

But he insisted Hand "doesn't want to be someone who commits crimes" and wanted to work with probation to try and achieve this.

Imposing a six month conditional discharge, Recorder Nicola Fitches said she had taken account of his "difficult childhood" as well as his age and credit for plea adding that "everyone wants you to succeed".

Hand was ordered to pay £30 compensation for the broken bike lock.

Recorder Fitches deferred reaching a decision over the breach of suspended sentence order until October 15.