Two men have been convicted after they were found in possession of a stolen Vauxhall Insignia in October last year and were in the process of dismantling it for parts when they were arrested.
30-year-old Paul Booker and 28-year-old Akeel Hussain, both from Bradford, pleaded guilty to the offences and were sentenced to 12 months community service and 100 hours of unpaid work in Bradford Crown Court last week.
Judge Thomas heard how the stolen vehicle, which was on loan from accident management firm Accident Exchange, had been left secure in Manningham, Bradford, over a weekend while the man who had hired it travelled abroad.
Sentencing the pair, Judge Thomas told them: “As men in your position, having been in the motor trade for so long, you should have known better.
“If it had been proven that you stole the vehicle, you would have been facing lengthy custodial sentences.
“As it is a case of handling stolen good, I suggest you learn your lesson.”
Using covert technology, anti-fraud investigators led police to a derelict Land Rover garage in Bradford, where the car and both men were found.
