A MINI-CAB DRIVER WHO WAS FOUND WITH AN ALADDIN’S
A MINI-CAB DRIVER WHO WAS FOUND WITH AN ALADDIN’S CAVE OF
STOLEN CAR PARTS WAS JAILED FOR 18 MONTHS ON TUESDAY.
WHEN POLICE OFFICERS RAIDED THE HOME OF 25-YEAR-OLD SHAHAP
SHAHAP THEY DISCOVERED PARTS FROM 11 CARS, SOUTHWARK CROWN COURT
HEARD.
ON ARREST, SHAHAP CLAIMED HE SUSPECTED HIS FRIENDS WERE INVOLVED
IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITY BUT SAID HE WAS NOT.
IN COURT, HE WAS CONVICTED OF NINE CHARGES OF HANDLING STOLEN
CAR PARTS.
BUT THE BLOOMSBURY MAN WAS CLEARED OF A FURTHER 20 CHARGES OF
STEALING CAR PARTS AND SEVERAL OTHER CARS.
PASSING SENTENCE, ASSISTANT RECORDER MR VOELCKER SAID: ‘IT IS
NOT THE FIRST TIME YOU HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF DISHONESTY.
‘IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS YOU RECEIVED PROPERTY FROM CAR STRIPPERS
THEREBY ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO STEAL PROPERTY FROM CARS.
‘SOME OF THE PROPERTY YOU RECEIVED WERE CHASSIS PLATES WHICH, AS
YOU WELL KNOW, MAKES THE CAR MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY.
‘
THE COURT HEARD FOR FIVE MONTHS SHAHAP HAD ALLEGEDLY SPECIALISED
IN STEALING CARS AND STRIPPING THEM OF THEIR IDENTITY BEFORE SELLING
THEM ON TO INNOCENT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
‘HE HAD A PROFESSIONAL LITTLE BUSINESS CHANGING THE IDENTITY OF
CARS HE STOLE, WHICH IS COMMONLY CALLED ‘RINGING’, AND THEN SELLING
EITHER CAR PARTS OR THE CAR ITSELF TO UNSUSPECTING PURCHASERS,’ SAID
PROSECUTOR, MR BRIAN LETT.
WHEN OFFICERS RAIDED SHAHAP’S HOME ON FEBRUARY 17 LAST YEAR THEY
DISCOVERED A PILE OF CHASSIS AND REGISTRATION NUMBER PLATES AND 21
DIFFERENT CAR KEYS.
BUT GIVING EVIDENCE SHAHAP ADMITTED HE HAD SERVICED AN
SOLD CHEAP CARS BUT DENIED THE ALLEGATION OF ‘RINGING’.
‘I WAS WORKING IN A FEW DIFFERENT PLACES AND I KNEW QUITE A LOT
ABOUT MECHANICS AND CARS – ENOUGH SIMPLE SERVICES AND REPAIRS.
‘DURING THAT TIME I ALSO BOUGHT A FEW VERY VERY CHEAP CARS, BUT
I BOUGHT AND SOLD THEM LEGALLY,’ HE SAID.
SHAHAP OF GREENWAY HOUSE, FERNSBERRY STREET, BLOOMSBURY, WAS
CONVICTED OF NINE CHARGES OF HANDLING STOLEN GOODS BETWEEN OCTOBER
1986 AND FEBRUARY 17 LAST YEAR.
HE WAS CLEARED OF A FURTHER 20 CHARGES OF THEFT OF CARS AND CAR
PARTS BETWEEN THE SAME DATES.
ENDS
