BROWN: WHEELER-DEALER FACING JAIL FOR MASSIVE HAUL OF STOLEN BOOTY

A wheeler-dealer caught with stolen loot worth tens of thousands’ of pounds is facing jail today (Tues).

Retired businessman Danny Brown, 71, was watched by police as he offered luxury items including designer shoes, watches, clothing, perfumes and lighters for sale.

Among the items seized by officers on August 13, 2009, were watches from crystal-maker Swarovski and Dunhill lighters, which sell for hundreds of pounds each.

The haul, among the Met’s biggest in recent years, also included scarves from the Scarf Company and a consignment of shoes from high street retailer Office.

The stolen goods were found stashed in a container at the Orbital business park in Edmonton, north London, after a tip-off from a member of the public.

Some are believed to have been taken during smash and grab raids at stores in central London, and around £12,000 in cash was also recovered.

Brown denied a total of 22 charges, but pleaded to guilty to 14 today, shortly before a trial was due to begin.

He admitted 13 counts of handling stolen goods and a single charge of possessing criminal property. The remaining eight charges will lie on the file.

Prosecutor Martin Pinfold said: ‘These pleas represent the  bulk of the recovered property and in the circumstances the crown find these pleas to be acceptable.’

Brown, of (Bridgefoot Farm) Collier Street, Hatfield Broad Oak, Bishops Stortford, Herts, faces sentence later today (Tues).

mfl