A bike insurance owner will have to pay to have his stolen bike returned or it will be crushed, police said.

Dominic Boddy’s, Yamaha SR 125, was stolen from a friend’s house in Staincliffe, but the police recovered the bike and then took it to a private company for a forensic test.

As a result, they told Dominic, he could collect his bike as long as he paid the £150 recovery fee, with the price increasing by £10 for every day the bike is stored. Failure to pay within 14 days will result in the bike getting crushed.

Dominic's dad Christopher said it was ludicrous that victim of a crime had to pay to get their property back.

He said: “My son worked hard and used his savings to get this bike. Someone has come along and stolen it, and now the police are holding him to ransom because they found it. That to me is wrong. It looks very much like the bike is going to be destroyed against Dominic's wishes.”

Police have said most people can pay this cost through their bike insurance company. However Dominic said:“The bike has cost me quite a bit of money and was recently taxed. I'm having to walk everywhere because I can't afford to take the bus or the train. I can't afford to pay the excess on my insurance, and even if I could it would mean I would lose my no claims bonus.”