A garage owner became suspicious and reported it to the police, a court heard
Aaron Watson, pictured outside Hull Crown Court(Image: Hull Live)
Police were alerted after a suspicious garage owner realised that something very dodgy was going on over the secret dismantling of a Ford Fiesta car that had been stolen in a burglary six weeks earlier.
Aaron Watson was busy working on a suspected mission to salvage potentially money-making spare parts to be sold later, Hull Crown Court heard. Watson, 45, of Humbleton, Holderness, admitted handling stolen goods on June 17, 2024.
Stephen Welch, prosecuting, said that a red Ford Fiesta car was stolen in a burglary. It was not suggested that Watson was involved in this. About six weeks later, Watson asked a man if he could use his garage in De La Pole Avenue, Hull, to repair a Ford Fiesta.
Watson began dismantling the car and destroying all identifying marks. The man became suspicious about what was happening, threw Watson off the premises and reported the matter to the police.
Vehicle parts found were identified as being stolen from the Fiesta. During police interview, Watson admitted scrapping the car but he made mainly no comment replies to questions.
Watson had convictions for 49 previous offences, including being jailed for two years in 2005 and for three years in 2012, both for possessing heroin with intent to supply. He was given a community order in October 2023 for two thefts and criminal damage but he was later jailed for non-compliance.
Jazmine Lee, mitigating, said that Watson had already served a five-week prison sentence while waiting for the handling stolen goods case to come to court. “This happened before that,” said Miss Lee.
Watson pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. He had been struggling with the breakdown of a relationship at the time and this was a contributing factor in his actions and lack of foresight.
“He was suffering from alcoholism and even drug use at the time,” said Miss Lee. “It’s reckless behaviour. He has not thought about his actions.”
Recorder Brian Whitehead told Watson: “A car was stolen, not by you, in a burglary. You came into possession of it and you have accepted that you knew that it was stolen. You broke the car up in a garage, probably for spare parts, and you were reported by the garage owner.”
Watson was ordered to do 100 hours’ unpaid work and he was given 15 days’ rehabilitation.
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