A MALVERN man will stand trial accused of stealing and selling two mountain bikes.

David Cox, aged 27, of Elgar Avenue, denies stealing a Muddy Fox mountain bike, worth £15, belonging to Maria Farley between May 8-9 and another bike, belonging to Robert Farley and worth £100, between June 20-July 7.

He also denied a charge of handling stolen goods when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Monday.

Mark Johnson, prosecuting, said Miss Farley’s bike went missing and that she was then approached by a woman she did not know telling her she had bought the bike from Fox for £10.

He said Mr Farley spotted his bike being ridden and was also told it had been sold by Fox.

Mark Sheward, defending, said in both cases Fox claimed to have found the bikes abandoned around the local estate.

“The issue is that he was not acting dishonestly and thought the bikes had been abandoned,” he said.

Cox, who admitted a further charge of failing to surrender to bail in connection with the incident, was bailed to stand trial at Worcester Magistrates Court on November 1.