Two in stolen car parts case tracked by victim
Two men who broke up stolen car parts at their salvage yard have been spared an immediate jail term.
Michael McDonald and Michael Aston were found to be handling stolen goods after a victim of theft followed the tracker inside his stolen company car to the premises McDonald rented and called police.
The engine of the stolen Audi A3 was found at Unit 23 of the Bridge Street Trading Estate in Smethwick, in November 2012. Paperwork officers found at the premises suggested it was linked with another metal yard in Smethwick called Sims.
A visit to the second site led to the discovery of the original shell of the stolen Audi A3 and parts from another stolen BMW VRM and a Renault Clio, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday.
McDonald, aged 35, of Coniston Crescent, Great Barr, gave a statement to officers on his arrest saying he knew the cars were stolen and he was doing the work 'as a favour for a friend'. He also admitted the Mitsubishi used to transport the stolen cars between the two sites was his, said Mrs Aliya Rashid, prosecuting. He pleaded guilty to three charges of handling stolen goods at an earlier hearing.
Aston, aged 43, of Hembs Crescent, Great Barr, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to three charges of handling stolen goods on the basis that he claimed he did not initially know the three cars were stolen.
Mr Colin McCarraher, defending McDonald, highlighted his client admitted his role when he was first arrested. He said the father-of-five had a 'moment of great weakness' which left him in the dock.
Mr Michael Anning, defending Aston, stressed his client did not have any 'hands-on involvement' in this 'one-off'.
Passing sentence, Recorder Mr Graham Huston said it was possible to suspend sentences for both men because they made an 'error of judgement' in the face of financial pressures, and it was their first such crime.
He made both defendants subject to an eight-month sentence on each charge concurrently but suspended for two years.
They will both be required to complete 12 months' supervision, 200 hours' unpaid work and pay a further statutory surcharge.
