Rochdale man avoids jail after stealing bank cards and quad bike from Rossendale farm

Brandon Stewart

A Rochdale man has avoided jail after stealing a quad bike and several bank cards from a farm in Rossendale.

Brandon Stewart, 27, was sentenced at Burnley Crown Court on 6 June, after pleading guilty to the offences. He has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months; 10 days rehabilitation; a seven-year restraining order and a 20-week tag with a curfew between 7pm and 5am.

Stewart was identified after Rossendale Rural Task Force investigated and located numerous pieces of CCTV from Rochdale of the offender using bank cards stolen from the farm.

He was arrested in September 2022.

Stewart refused to answer any questions in police interview and refused to tell officers where the victim’s quad bike was, which still hasn’t been recovered. Two witnesses participated in an ID parade and positively identified Stewart as being on the victim’s land and stealing the quad.

A spokesperson for Rossendale Police said: “This crime has significantly impacted on the victim and they described to us how they felt stalked within their own home especially living in the rural location that they do.

“They described that the theft of quad bike has not just stolen their means to access the land to care for the animals, but also stolen their independence and confidence.”