A BICESTER man found with a haul of stolen goods has been told by a judge of the distress such crimes cause.

Josh Barnes was given unpaid work at Oxford Crown Court yesterday after earlier admitting two counts of handling stolen goods.

The 20-year-old, of Andover Close, handled stolen items including an Armani watch and a £1,000 Boardman bike in January.

Recorder Clive Broe gave Barnes 100 hours of unpaid work and told him to pay £200 costs.

He said: “Burglars of dwelling houses cause great distress to the victims. If it wasn’t for handlers, people who do what you have done, there would be far less burglaries and far less distress.

“I want you to fully understand your connection to these offences, even though it was accepted that at the time you were unaware the property you received came from people’s houses.”