Accrington man fined for buying stolen kitchen units
2:10pm Monday 11th March 2013 in North West
A RENTED house was stripped of everything, except the kitchen sink, by the tenant.
Blackburn magistrates heard Abubakir Iqbal got drawn into the ‘demolition’ when he was asked if he wanted to buy some kitchen units.
And the court was told that when he started to suspect the units might be stolen, Iqbal took them to the tip to try and distance himself from any offending.
Iqbal, 23, of Countess Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods. He was fined £75, with £105 costs.
Claire Grant, prosecuting, said a passer-by alerted police when he saw three men loading kitchen units into a vehicle.
An officer attended and spoke to Iqbal, who explained the person who lived at the house was renovating the kitchen and had offered to sell him the old units.
Iqbal telephoned the man, who returned and confirmed the story, adding that his landlord had given him permission to re-decorate.
“The next day the officer managed to trace the owner, who said he had not given permission for any items to be removed,” said Mrs Grant.
Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said it was the tenant who had systematically stripped the house, but that was nothing to do with Iqbal.
