Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer

A St James hotel worker was lucky to get off with a warning in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, after a stolen Jamaica Cycling Federation bicycle wound up in his possession last month.

Randane Francis, 26, from Montego Bay, was instructed by the court to plead not guilty to receiving stolen property, after the federation sent word that it would not proceed with the case if the bicycle was returned.

Allegations are that some time in July 2012, the bicycle was stolen from Oshane Williams, a member of the federation, and that Francis later received it on February 4, 2013. The defendant was later arrested after the bicycle was recognised and pointed out to the police.

"What sort of work do you do?" Resident Magistrate Sandria Wong-Small asked Francis on Tuesday.

"I work at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel (in Montego Bay), I do cleaning up," said Francis.

"Oh, so you provide janitorial services," the magistrate remarked.

Meanwhile, the prosecution presented a letter from the federation asking for the return of the bicycle, which is currently in police custody, and indicating that the group will not take any further action once the bicycle is returned.

Francis, who had earlier pleaded guilty to the offence, was therefore instructed to change his plea.

"I'm giving you a chance so that you don't lose your job ... I am not to see you in this court again, and you are to be more careful who you conduct your transactions with, and with what," RM Wong-Small advised Francis, before allowing him to leave.