A motorcyclist has been told to pay £150 to get his stolen bike back.

After having his Yamaha SR125 worth £700 stolen from a friend’s house in Staincliffe, the unemployed 20 year old owner of the bike was told by the West Yorkshire Police that he was to pay £150 to get it back with an additional £10 for each day it is stored, or it would be crushed.

With a bill now having reached £260, the man could face having the £700 vehicle crushed, and would need to pay further crushing charges on top.

However, the man was told that the cost may be covered under his bike insurance but he would need to pay an excess fee of £250.

The man 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."

The man’s father 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.”