Melvin Clark was caught in the act by the Middle Street North cameras, installed after the Save Our Streets group, supported by the Driffield Post and its sister newspaper, the Driffield Times, mounted a successful campaign.

Police saw on the CCTV footage 52-year-old Clark parking his 1992 Mitsubishi Shogun on Bridge Street, removing the four chrome and steel wheels and tyres from an identical vehicle and putting them in his boot. He also took the spare wheel.

It was later found Clark had fitted the haul, which could have been worth hundreds of pounds, to his own vehicle.

During the past year the Middle Street North area has fallen victim to a spate of thefts and criminal damage in which shop windows were smashed and stock was ruined - costing local businesses thousands of pounds.

PC Steve Wilson, of Driffield Police, said: "Had it not been for the cameras we would not have got a prosecution out of this. It is a tribute to the continued investment in CCTV for the town."

Clark pleaded guilty to theft from the motor vehicle, belonging to Howard Shortland, who had been out of the country at the time of the offence, in the early hours of August 22.

Prosecuting solicitor, Heather Levett, told Bridlington Magistrates Court on Wednesday: "The CCTV showed a vehicle driving up and parking, a male looking suspicious walking to the garage premises on Bridge Street then drive off towards town.

"Overnight the set of wheels and tyres were stolen and the other vehicle left standing on bricks. Clark's car was later found fitted with the stolen wheels and spare."

Clark's Shogun has now been seized by police and he faces a bill of about £500 to get it back. The stolen wheels have been returned to Mr Shortland.

Representing Clark, solicitor Ed Cunnah said in mitigation that Clark, who is carer to his partner who suffers considerable medical difficulties, had been struggling financially.

Clark, who was given a conditional discharge for 12 months, had needed to travel to Runcorn to pick up his 13-year-old daughter, but felt his tyres were unfit for the journey.

He said he had been unable to afford new ones after shelling out for other repairs to the vehicle.

Mr Cunnah told the court: "He had to collect her but the tyres on his vehicle were in a poor state and he did not feel it was safe to be driving with these tyres and swapped them."