A SERIAL teenage thief who nicked bikes across the city has avoided jail.

Ciaran Welsh, 18, appeared in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to several thefts.

Welsh kicked off his continuous offending by stealing a bike worth £400 from the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on November 29, last year. The court heard that when cops caught up with Welsh a few days later on December 2 and found him with the bike, he admitted the theft.

His next theft was at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary on February 21, this year.

He admitted he stole a bike whilst acting with another. The court heard that this theft was captured on CCTV.

Cops then spotted Welsh cycling on Ledard Road in Battlefield on March 5.

The court heard when they stopped and asked him who the bike belonged to, he admitted that it wasn’t his.

The Procurator Fiscal depute told the court that Welsh said: “I just seen it and took it.”

Welsh then admitted to being in the curtilage of flats at Oatlands Square on April 17 without lawful authority to be there and with the intention of committing theft there. The court heard that he was trying sheds in the area.

That same day at London Way when police caught up with hm to advise that he was being arrested for what he had done earlier, he kicked off. He admitted that he did shout and swear at police officers. He also behaved in an aggressive manner towards them.

His next theft was detected when cops on patrol for the Old Firm match on April 23 spotted Welsh on a bike and were suspicious. When Welsh spotted them, he bolted which resulted in a chase. He admitted that he cycled dangerously on George Street and Montrose Street. He cycled at high speed on a footpath in the path of pedestrians and they had to take evasive action to avoid him. He also entered the roadway and he failed to adhere to road traffic signals including a red light. He also cycled towards oncoming vehicles.

He then stole a bike worth £300 from Hillhead Street on May 10.

Two bicycles worth £720 were also nicked by Welsh at the Village Hotel at Festival Gate on April 23.

He stole a bike at the Hub, Pacific Quay on May 8. This bike was worth £400 and there was no recovery.

Prior to his bike theft spree, Welsh also admitted assault. He pushed a man on the body which caused him to fall to the ground to his injury. This offence happened at Moffat Street on July 23, last year.

Welsh's defence agent told the court that his client was not in employment and there was no structure to his life.

His defence agent said: “He is a man who is young enough that hopefully quite a significant period of supervision will assist him.”

Sheriff Kelly told Welsh he had avoided prison. He said: “You are clearly a prolific bike thief which makes you a pest to the members of the public who try to secure their bikes.”

Welsh, of Waddell Court, Glasgow, will complete 160 hours of unpaid work in the community within nine months.

He also will be supervised for a year. He was also tagged for three months.