TMCnet News
'Professional handler' convicted unanimously ; Southmead man received stolen goods [Bristol Evening Post (England)](Bristol Evening Post (England) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) A MAN who claimed he bought bargains from car-boot sales without knowing some were stolen has been found guilty of receiving stolen goods. Bristol Crown Court was told police who searched Paul Howard's three-bedroom home in Southmead found a large collection of items including laptop computers, satellite-navigation devices, mobile phones, jewellery and toiletries. It transpired nine items were stolen from homes or cars around Bristol but Howard told a jury he frequently bought goods from car- boot sales, shops or a trading magazine and as far as he knew they were legitimate. Howard, 40, of Ravenglass Road, denied nine counts of handling stolen goods from February 2008 to March 2012. A jury of six women and six men unanimously convicted him of all counts. Judge Carol Hagen bailed him, pending a probation report, until sentence on a date to be fixed. She said: There is a clear inference to be drawn that he is a professional handler. Mark Hollier, for the Crown Prosecution Service, told the jury police found an assortment of property stored throughout Howard's home. The goods included a bag of socks and DVDs and even a bag of toy bears, the court heard. Detective Constable Mike Bradley, the police officer in charge of the case, said items recovered were investigated and police established nine pieces of stolen property. The items included a Blu- ray player, a Panasonic television, a Samsung mobile phone and a Garmin sat nav. Howard told the jury he was a regular at weekend and bank- holiday car-boot sales including those in Cheddar, Whitchurch, Easter Compton and Bradley Stoke. He said he had received Pounds 4,000 insurance money from a car accident, as well as a Pounds 13,000 to Pounds 15,000 insurance pay- out for a ceiling collapse and Pounds 17,000 from a house sale. Read Geoff's stories by following GeoffBennett at www.thisisbristol.co.uk (c) 2013 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |