Thief Ordered To Pay Back Thousands

Thu, 09 September 2010 Courtesy of: West Midlands Police

A court has ordered a 37-year-old man from Walsall to hand over £32,000 after a successful application by West Midlands Police under the Proceeds of Crime Act .

James Tipton, from Leamore, was initially arrested in April 2009 following an investigation into the theft of motorcycles from across the West Midlands and Staffordshire areas.

A search warrant was executed at an address in Chestnut Road, which resulted in the recovery of twelve stolen motorcycles all of which had either been broken down into small parts or in the process of being dismantled.

“he faces 18 months in prison and will still owe the money”

In July 2009 James Tipton was charged with twelve counts of handling stolen goods for which he was to later receive a community order at court.

Over the next twelve months PS Mike Mason and PC Ant Hammerton from Walsall, in conjunction with the force financial investigation unit, used the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to investigate and identify the financial benefits that Tipton had made from his illegal activity.

This culminated on 27 August 2010 at Wolverhampton Crown, where James Tipton was ordered a confiscation order which forces him to pay back £32,720 within six months.

If he fails to pay the money back within the time, he faces 18 months in prison and will still owe the money.

PS Mike Mason said: "This is an excellent outcome and demonstrates that police, supported by the courts, will seek to confiscate any assets that have been obtained by criminal activity.

"People who engage in theft and burglary are not only at risk of imprisonment but also of losing their homes and savings."