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Fraudster 'sold on' stolen cars
A FRAUDSTER who sold stolen cars to a scrap yard has been given a chance by a judge.
Paul Sheppard, 28, of New Road, Trowbridge, was given the vehicles by a car thief friend and used a false name to sell them at a breakers yard.
But despite the 28-year-old having a 'horrendous record' of previous convictions a judge decided not to jail him.
Marion Langford, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court on Friday how Sheppard got the cars from another man who had stolen them.
She said he then took them to Shanley's breakers yard in Shails Lane, Trowbridge, and sold them for a fraction of the vehicles' values.
Although all of the cars were fairly old she said they were thought to be worth hundreds and in one case as much as £1,500.
However the court heard he received no more than £85 for any one of the vehicles when he sold them for scrap using the name Paul Smith.
Sheppard pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud and five of handling stolen goods.
He sold an N-reg Ford Transit, and M-reg Rover, an S-reg Renault Laguna, and M-reg Metro and an L-reg Vauxhall Cavalier to either Terry Shanley or EJ Shanley.
Four of five stolen vehicles were sold between Saturday September 15 and Tuesday September 25 last year.
The first offence in time, which was the Cavalier, taken on July 23, 2007.
Miss Langford said the offences were clearly pre-planned and carried out as a 'commercial operation'.
Alex Daymond, defending, said his client is a vulnerable man who was taken advantage of by anther man who had stolen the cars and suggested he sell them on.
He said he had learning difficulties, a history of mental health problems and was susceptible to peer pressure.
Although he said his client had 'a horrendous record' he said he seemed to be 'turning a corner' on a community sentence for other offences.
Judge William Hart said: "I probably ought to send you to prison today and I have asked myself the question whether I can avoid doing so.
"If I send you to prison it would not be for very long. It would not achieve anything as far as you are concerned but punish you and it would probably not do much for the community in general as you have made progress on the order, though slow progress."
He imposed a 24-week sentence suspended for 18 months and put him on supervision for 18 months.
After passing sentence he told Sheppard: "It is a chance I am giving you today."
2:30pm Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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CommentPosted by: Wiltshire Resident, Wiltshire on 3:13pm Tue 22 Jul 08
Oh dear, how many more chances are going to be given ? Maybe someone should actually take and stand and say 'Enough is enough'
Oh dear, how many more chances are going to be given ? Maybe someone should actually take and stand and say 'Enough is enough'
Posted by: P Hancox, Somewhere in the ether on 3:25pm Tue 22 Jul 08
Judge William Hart said: "I probably ought to send you to prison today" Too bloody right you should have.
Judge William Hart said: "I probably ought to send you to prison today" Too bloody right you should have.
Posted by: walter, wilshur on 3:56pm Tue 22 Jul 08
Be fair, WR, someone kicked his Teddy Bear when he were a nipper, and he is disturbed because he weren't picked fer school socccer team. 'Corse, there is also the possibility that he is a thoroughly unpleasant little towrag.
Be fair, WR, someone kicked his Teddy Bear when he were a nipper, and he is disturbed because he weren't picked fer school socccer team. 'Corse, there is also the possibility that he is a thoroughly unpleasant little towrag.
Posted by: Resident of Trowbridge, trowbridge on 5:20pm Tue 22 Jul 08
The thing is because "was taken advantage of by anther man who had stolen the cars and he had learning difficulties, a history of mental health problems and was susceptible to peer pressure" I'd put a bet on that he's going to be back before the court again, for different offences and his "horrendous record" MIGHT eventually catch up on him and he may just get to speand some time at Her Magisty's Pleasure!
The thing is because "was taken advantage of by anther man who had stolen the cars and he had learning difficulties, a history of mental health problems and was susceptible to peer pressure" I'd put a bet on that he's going to be back before the court again, for different offences and his "horrendous record" MIGHT eventually catch up on him and he may just get to speand some time at Her Magisty's Pleasure!
Posted by: Resident of Trowbridge, trowbridge on 5:23pm Tue 22 Jul 08
The thing is because "was taken advantage of by anther man who had stolen the cars and he had learning difficulties, a history of mental health problems and was susceptible to peer pressure" I'd put a bet on that he's going to be back before the court again, for different offences and his "horrendous record" MIGHT eventually catch up on him and he may just get to speand some time at Her Magisty's Pleasure!
The thing is because "was taken advantage of by anther man who had stolen the cars and he had learning difficulties, a history of mental health problems and was susceptible to peer pressure" I'd put a bet on that he's going to be back before the court again, for different offences and his "horrendous record" MIGHT eventually catch up on him and he may just get to speand some time at Her Magisty's Pleasure!
Posted by: Wiltshire Resident, Wiltshire on 7:15pm Tue 22 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Resident of Trowbridge[/bold] wrote:
The thing is because "was taken advantage of by anther man who had stolen the cars and he had learning difficulties, a history of mental health problems and was susceptible to peer pressure" I'd put a bet on that he's going to be back before the court again, for different offences and his "horrendous record" MIGHT eventually catch up on him and he may just get to speand some time at Her Magisty's Pleasure![/quote] You were doing so well with the diffcult words and it all went wrong with speand (?) and Magisty (?!)
Oops !
Resident of Trowbridge wrote:
The thing is because "was taken advantage of by anther man who had stolen the cars and he had learning difficulties, a history of mental health problems and was susceptible to peer pressure" I'd put a bet on that he's going to be back before the court again, for different offences and his "horrendous record" MIGHT eventually catch up on him and he may just get to speand some time at Her Magisty's Pleasure!
You were doing so well with the diffcult words and it all went wrong with speand (?) and Magisty (?!)
Oops !
Posted by: drbennyboombass, bradford on 8:49am Wed 23 Jul 08
well he has probably had a rough life, he has little education ect.... what do you expect him to do? get some factory job or simular? he probably made a nice bit of cash !! he was using his initiative good on him i say !! at least he makes an efort
well he has probably had a rough life, he has little education ect.... what do you expect him to do? get some factory job or simular? he probably made a nice bit of cash !! he was using his initiative good on him i say !! at least he makes an efort
Posted by: Walter McCabe, Freshford on 9:08am Wed 23 Jul 08
"It would not achieve anything but punish you", pardon moi for having two strong legs to stand on, but ain that the porpoise of the thin blue line, the wigs and then the slammer!!!
"It would not achieve anything but punish you", pardon moi for having two strong legs to stand on, but ain that the porpoise of the thin blue line, the wigs and then the slammer!!!
Posted by: Necker, Trowbridge on 9:13am Wed 23 Jul 08
[quote]learning difficulties, a history of mental health problems and was susceptible to peer pressure.[/quote]
These are the people that end up killing people if not kept in check.
learning difficulties, a history of mental health problems and was susceptible to peer pressure.
These are the people that end up killing people if not kept in check.
Posted by: Sally Beenwell, Westbury on 11:45am Wed 23 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Wiltshire Resident[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Resident of Trowbridge[/bold] wrote: The thing is because "was taken advantage of by anther man who had stolen the cars and he had learning difficulties, a history of mental health problems and was susceptible to peer pressure" I'd put a bet on that he's going to be back before the court again, for different offences and his "horrendous record" MIGHT eventually catch up on him and he may just get to speand some time at Her Magisty's Pleasure![/quote] You were doing so well with the diffcult words and it all went wrong with speand (?) and Magisty (?!) Oops ![/quote] Here we go a reincarnated Heather Bully boy Brussell.issuing corrective spelling behaviour. I wonder if Trousers are being Worn.
Wiltshire Resident wrote:
Resident of Trowbridge wrote: The thing is because "was taken advantage of by anther man who had stolen the cars and he had learning difficulties, a history of mental health problems and was susceptible to peer pressure" I'd put a bet on that he's going to be back before the court again, for different offences and his "horrendous record" MIGHT eventually catch up on him and he may just get to speand some time at Her Magisty's Pleasure!
You were doing so well with the diffcult words and it all went wrong with speand (?) and Magisty (?!) Oops !
Here we go a reincarnated Heather Bully boy Brussell.issuing corrective spelling behaviour. I wonder if Trousers are being Worn.
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