A MAN driving through Aberystwyth with a stolen boat was arrested by police after being spotted by the owner’s son, a court heard.

Police were called by Michael Bishop to report the Picton 155 speedboat, an engine and Snipe trailer had been stolen from Aberystwyth harbour on 29 August.

Shortly afterwards, Mr Bishop’s son called police after he saw what he thought was the boat being towed through Aberystwyth.

Police followed Lee Butler’s vehicle and spoke to him when he stopped at a lay-by at Tre’r Ddôl.

Mr Bishop also attended and identified the boat, trailer and engine as his.

Butler, 31, pleaded guilty to theft and failing to surrender to bail after he failed to attend court on Wednesday, 9 December.

At first Butler, of 6 Cannock Road, Shareshill in Wolverhampton, denied that he had stolen the boat and insisted he had bought it, but during a second interview with police he admitted theft.

Defence solicitor Alison Mathias said Butler accepted theft as he had not returned the boat when he realised his colleague had taken the wrong boat.

She said that if he had returned it as soon as he realised, he would not have been charged with theft.

Ms Mathias said the boat was returned to Mr Bishop as Butler had been stopped not far outside of Aberystwyth.

She added that he had contacted the court before his initial court date of 9 December to say he would be there in the afternoon, but did not have the money to be able to travel to Aberystwyth.

However, he attended at Llanelli court a few days after.

Butler was fined £120 and will pay a court charge of £180 and costs totalling £105.