Car mechanic pays the price
A West Wales man has been sentenced to prison and received a confiscation order for handling stolen goods and conspiracy. Brian Howells from Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire was convicted at Swansea Crown Court earlier this year and subsequently received a confiscation order last month following an investigation by Dyfed Powys police and the Wales RART.
In March 2004, officers executed a search warrant at Howell’s home address where they recovered a number of outstanding stolen vehicles and a car transporter trailer and it became apparent that Howells had been involved in the ringing (changing the identity) of various stolen vehicles.
Officers subsequently returned to the address a month later where they recovered bathroom and kitchen fittings and appliances including wall and floor tiles as well as pine furniture and plumbing equipment. This property was identified as being stolen from two separate dwelling burglaries which occurred in the Carmarthen area.
It had also become apparent that Howells had befriended an individual within the DVLA who was passing him details of cherished number plates which were no longer in use. Howells was then able to register a car using these plates, thus acquiring ownership of them and subsequently selling them at a profit.
The financial investigation discovered that Howells was unemployed and in receipt of state benefits even though he had been able to improve his home address by building a garage and workshops as well as purchasing an extra plot of land alongside. A large amount of unexplained money had been credited to his account.
Howells was sentenced to 4 ½ years imprisonment and subsequently received a confiscation order where it was declared that he had benefited from his crimes to a total of £153,719.67 and his total recoverable assets were £69,333.33. If he fails to pay that amount within 3 months, he will serve an additional 2 years imprisonment.