THE father of a boy who had his bike stolen by criminal Kyle Coupe was outraged the court was considering wiping off the compensation in lieu of time the convict is serving in prison.

In the letter read to Swindon Magistrates Court on Tuesday, the father described his ‘Sheer and utter disgust with HMCTS’ as his son had bought the bike using money received for his birthday and was horrified they were considering letting Coupe off repaying the money.

“I am shaking with anger as I write this letter,” it read. “What sort of message are you sending out?

“I do not care he is in prison. If compensation is written off by HMCTS it is an utter disgrace and sends a message crime does pay.”

The letter was in response to one the court sent earlier this month advising they were considering taking this action.

Coupe, 22, formerly of Walter Close, now at HMP Bullingdon, owes just over £1,940 in court costs for offences dating from 2010 to May of this year.

Of that amount £175 is compensation for the stolen bike, which he was ordered to pay by the courts in February. So far he has paid £5.64 towards it.

He is currently serving a 15 month sentence for attacking a group of homeless people in Whalebridge Car Park in April. He filmed himself as he punched, kicked, kneed and stamped on the men, some of whom were dozing in sleeping bags, during the prolonged attack.

The victims refused to press charges but the 13-minute incident was caught on the CCTV system.

Coupe also owes £870 in compensation for another matter in relation to a charge of theft by finding.

Bench chairman Mary Holland said they would not wipe the compensation but reduced some of the court costs to be paid to the Crown Prosecution Service by £450 in lieu of time in prison. His balance now stands at £1,490. He has previously paid £544.