Published date: 14 October 2015 |
Published by: Staff reporterRead more articles by Staff reporterEmail reporter
A VALET worker admitted selling stolen Vauxhall car parts worth thousands of pounds on auction website eBay.
Mark Roberts, of Second Avenue, Gwersyllt, Wrexham, was found with £38,000 of goods which had been taken by a mystery employee at the car plant in Ellesmere Port.
The stash was discovered in a police raid at his home on November 22, 2013 and included a range of items from bulbs to larger “constituent parts”.
Roberts, 50, had been selling the parts on a “day-to-day basis” for a year before company chiefs spotted new but ‘unboxed’ parts for sale on eBay and began an investigation.
He pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, at Chester Crown Court yesterday.
Judge Roger Dutton told him: “You’ve been a remarkably stupid man.
“You are a man of good character who saw the opportunity to make a fast buck, and that’s what you did.
“You have disgraced yourself and your family. You’ve got a lot to do earn the respect of your community again.”
Jo Maxwell, prosecuting, told the court the parts had been stolen, and then handled by Roberts, between November 2012 and 2013.
The goods were described as “run-out stock”, which included parts belonging to old models destined for other dealerships or even scrap.
Maria Masselis, defending, said Roberts was a man of good character who had been happily married for 25 years and had no previous convictions.
He was also needed to help his father-in-law, a double amputee who lost his wife in 2014 and required assistance negotiating stairs and attending hospital appointments.
“He doesn’t wish for his mistake to impact on his ability to assist other people,” Miss Masselis told the court. “Hitherto he has led a blemish-free life.”
Besides the suspended prison sentence, Roberts must also carry out 250 hours’ unpaid work in the community.
For full story see - http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/153719/gwersyllt-man-sold-stolen-car-parts-from-ellesmere-port-factory-on-ebay.aspx
No comments:
Post a Comment