Stole drowned man's bike

A THIEF saw his opportunity when a man fell off his bike into a canal—he stole the drowned man's bike.

 

Adam Lowther rode away on the mountain bike, making no attempt at a rescue, leaving  Michael Houghton to die in the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Kirkstall.

Traced

However Adam Lowther was later traced by detectives after selling the bike for  £20 at a local second hand shop.

He received a four months prison sentence for the theft of the bike, and admitted to police that he has seen Michael Houghton unconscious in the water, and had left him.

Alcohol

At Leeds Coroner's Court it was told that Michael Houghton had alcohol in his system, came off his bike and went into the waterway, possibly striking rocks under the surface.

Adam Lowther told that he came along the towpath on his own bike, saw the Apollo Vortice bike, and took it. He admitted he made no attempt to alert anyone about the man in the water.

Attempted resuscitation

It was later in the evening that a walker and cyclist came across the body, dragged it out of the water and attempted resuscitation, but to no avail.

Recording an open verdict, West Yorkshire Coroner stated Adam Lowther could have tried to get Mr Houghton out of the water, and the fact that he didn't. but stole the bike 'shows what a thoroughly cowardly and despicable young man he is'.