A crook who admitted running a pnds stlg 15,000 lu

A crook who admitted running a pnds stlg 15,000 luxury car-ringing scam escaped jail today.

(Fri)

Anthony Guy, 41, was caught trying to pass off a stolen Porsche as genuine by using the identity of a another wrecked car he had bought as scrap.

The scam was uncovered by police officers at Oldfields Trading Estate, unit 27, Sutton, Surrey, on January 15 this year.

William Emlyn-Jones, prosecuting, told Kingston Crown Court: ‘This is a car ‘ringing’ case.

‘Police officers found a black Porsche in a state of disrepair looking like it was in the process of being made road worthy and a second motor vehicle also in a state of disrepair.

‘The black Porsche had been stolen from Wandsworth in December, last year.

‘The defendant was in the process of transferring that car into the identity of a Porsche he had bought as a salvage vehicle which had been involved in a crash.

‘The black Porsche was being converted into the second vehicle which had Northern Irish number plates.

‘Also, the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) should have been stamped on the off side wing.

‘Officers found the VIN was in the right place but it had been stamped over the original number.

‘

Guy then produced photos that he said proved the cars had not been tampered with.

The police took away these photos and used them to re-examine the cars, the court heard.

Mr Emlyn-Jones said: ‘With the help of the photos the police saw the salvage vehicle had already been ‘rung’ twice.

‘It started life as a Y-reg Porsche and was the subject of court proceedings in 1991 when it was ‘rung’ into a v-reg Porsche.

‘It was on its third identity by the time it was crashed in 2001.

‘Guy in interview said he bought the D-reg Porsche from a man named ‘Ali’ for pnds stlg 3,000 when it was stolen.

‘The insurance company say it is worth pnds stlg 15,000 but guides say it is worth pnds stlg 7,500 for trade.

Judge David Whittaker said: ‘Handling stolen goods is a serious offence particularly when the value of the goods was as high as it was in this case.

‘If there were no handlers the thieves would not have a market.

‘Custody is normally the imposed in this type of case.

‘You are 41 and of previous good character.

That saves you from jail.

‘Having read the pre-sentence reports I’m motivated by the facts.

‘You have experienced marital difficulties which to some extent have resolved themselves.

‘You also take part in voluntary work.

‘I do not expect to see you again.

‘It is almost inevitable you will receive a custodial sentence if you commit a further offence or breach the order.

‘

Guy was given a Community Punishment Order of 180 hours.

Guy, of (42) Holden Street, Battersea, southwest London, admitted receiving stolen goods.

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