UNDERCOVER police were offered £5,500 worth of gardening tools in a sting to recover stolen property.

The tools, including hedge trimmers and chain saws, were stolen in burglaries in Colchester last year.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard the police operation led them to Robert Hazelwood, 21, of Hickory Avenue, Colchester.

He admitted two charges of handling stolen goods yesterday and was given an 18-month supervision order.

Hazelwood was also told to go on the Thinking Skills programme run by the Probation Service.

The court heard undercover police were contacted in September last year and offered stolen property.

Items were bought by police, who were using recording equipment, and Hazelwood was arrested.

The items police were offered were worth £5,500 but they were being sold for a fraction of their value.