Boss of Middlesbrough car repair business caught with stolen BMWs in his yard

The boss of a car repair business who was caught with stolen BMWs in his yard has been ordered to do a year’s unpaid work for the community.

Police tracked down three BMWs stolen in Teesside house burglaries to Stephen Watt’s premises in central Middlesbrough.

Watt, 46, said that he had bought them from a man to sell off as parts at bargain prices compared to those charged by main dealers.

He is now also facing a Proceeds of Crime case to seize his assets as police go through his dealings.

Prosecutor Connor Quinn told Teesside Crown Court that police found seven stolen cars at the yard in Telford Road, Middlesbrough, on 11 June 2013.

One was a BMW X5 stolen a month before from Skelton which was fitted with false registration plates from another X5 written off in December 2008 for which the owner had received a £10,000 insurance payoff.

There was also the body shell of another BMW stolen the same month which was worth £9,050 and another body shell from a BMW stolen in February 2012 for which the owner had received £8,000 from the insurers.

Watt said that he had paid £3,200 for the BMWs which the police said were valued at £26,370.

He said that he bought them from someone who was known to him and he believed that the man possessed them legally as part of his business.

Mr Quinn said that Watt had previous convictions for drink, drugs and driving offences.

Michael Bosomworth, mitigating, said that Watt had been in business repairing high-value cars such as BMWs and he had seen a market for parts from dismantled vehicles.

But he had taken on more than he could handle and his affairs were chaotic which left him with considerable debt.

Mr Bosomworth added: “He had them in good faith and in his line of business, so the offences which he has admitted are possession of criminal property and not handling stolen goods.

“He should have known better, he appreciates that he should have been more careful. The effect on his business has been traumatic because all his computers have been seized by the police.

“This case unfortunately brought to light that he was in breach of many regulations. He can’t go on like this.”

Watt has until next month to clear out the yard and he will seek new premises to continue in business as a car repairer.

The judge said that the sentence could take account of the delay in dealing with the case since June 2013.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC told Watt: “You have no convictions for dishonesty.”

Watt, of Bywell Grove, Ormesby, was given a 13 months jail sentence suspended for 18 months and 120 hours unpaid work after he pleaded guilty to three charges of concealing or disguising criminal property.