TWO men admitted handling stolen car parts after a diesel engine stripped from a stolen car was found by police at a Leigh workshop.
Business partners David Hepworth, aged 36, and John Marland, aged 45, appeared for sentence at Bolton Crown Court.
Hepworth told police he had bought the engine from a man in a white van outside a pub on the East Lancs Road. When police visited the workshop a second time they found a Sang Yong Musso vehicle with a false number plate and a stolen engine.
Hepworth, of Hanover Street, Leigh, and John Marland, of Mill Lane, Leigh, admitted handling stolen parts and Hepworth also admitted attempted handling. Marland admitted attempted receiving of stolen goods. Other charges were dismissed or left to lie on the file. The court heard that both men, who were of previous good character, were fearful of going to jail and had shown remorse for their actions. Judge Reginald Lockett sentenced them to a 180 hour Community Punishment Order and ordered Hepworth, who is working, to pay £400 towards court costs. Marland, who is unemployed, was ordered to pay £200.
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