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Trio jailed for part in £2.74m vehicle swindle
THREE Hampshire men
are today behind bars
for their parts in an
international industrial
machinery swindling case
which netted hundreds of
thousands of pounds.
Mark Thompson, Philip Harvey and his
nephew Jason Ralph were told that the
sums of money involved in the handling
of the stolen vehicles clearly showed the
extent of their enterprise. Only custodial
sentences would be appropriate.
Bournemouth Crown Court heard how
Ralph, 34, was in severe financial difficulties
after going bankrupt when the
conspiracy got under way.
Ralph was going to London and buying
the stolen machines - each worth around
£25,000 - and then selling them on to
Thompson, who has a truck and vehicle
sales firm.
A total of £288,873 was paid for 15 vehicles
- with Ralph making between £1,000
and £2,000 per machine. Thompson had
then sold them on at a profit of £101,416 to
unwitting customers all over the world.
Harvey, 57, meanwhile acted as facilitator
for Ralph, who he said he had taken
on like a son, cashing the cheques for him
because he did not have a bank account.
Police first became aware of what was
happening in August 2004 when officers
in Surrey carried out a routine stop
check on a transporter carrying what
turned out to be a stolen JCB telescopic
handler. The machine was destined for
Thompson's company - Thompson's
Trucks, based in Sandy Lane, Romsey.
Information was passed to Hampshire's
serious and organised crime unit who
visited the yard in March 2006 and a
major investigation began after further
checks uncovered far more stolen goods.
All three were then arrested.
A total of 15 separate transactions were
used as evidence in the court case, in
which all three men were found guilty by
a jury back in June. Police however said
they traced more than 50 pieces of stolen
agricultural machinery sold on from
Thompson's company across the UK,
Europe and as far afield as Dubai,
Lithuania and Australia.
When vehicles were recovered, forensic
tests on number plates and checks on the
chassis numbers proved they had been
stolen. To date though, the thieves at the
top of the chain have never been found.
Now the force is looking to
recover its largest ever
seizure of cash from the
profits - a staggering £2.74m.
Mitigating for Ralph, Matthew Jewel
told the court; "But for Mr Ralph's
frankly impossible financial circumstances
at the time, this wouldn't have
happened. He was driven to whatever he
did by virtue of his bankruptcy.
Mr Jewel added that while the conspiracy
was taking place, other honest transactions
had also occurred and added:
"There is no evidence to suggest that he
was directly or indirectly involved in the
ringing of these vehicles. There were others
that were closer to or deeper involved
with the thief or thieves."
The court was told that Ralph, who has
a daughter, had started a relationship
with a woman called Maple Hurlock and
was involved in a charity - which was not
named - and an enterprise that affected
hundreds who depended on him.
Thompson, 54, meanwhile continues to
maintain his innocence according to
his barrister Sally-Ann Hales, who
said the sale of the machines had not
generated an excessive profit for the company.
She added that Thompson - a dad who
was running the business originally set
up by his father in 1946 - had voluntarily
repaid all of the businesses that he had
sold to according to the charge he faced at
court, adding: "He sought to put matters
right, where he could."
Ms Hales said creditors had told how
they would still be happy to do business
with Thompson, who she described as of previous good character both professionally
and personally" and
his company again.
Mitigating for Harvey, a dad of
four who runs Handylift Ltd in
Southampton, James Leonard
said the conviction and threat of a
jail term had an emotional and
financial effect on those around
him.
He said; "It is not an exaggeration
to describe the conviction as
catastrophic for friends, family
and the community he has served.
He added that the prospect of
prison was "slightly surreal" to
Harvey.
"But for the friendship with
Ralph he would maybe not be
here. He paid out more than he
gained through the relationship
with the man he treated as a son.
It's cost him a fortune. The uppermost
thought on his mind now is
not what is going to happen to
him, but all those people who
depend on him through an honest
business."
Jailing Ralph, of Queens
Terrace, Southampton, for two
and half years, Judge John
Harrow said: "I have no idea how
much profit you made because
there is no evidence.
Sending Thompson, of The
Frenches, East Wellow, down for
27 months, Judge Harrow told
him he remained "mystified"
about why he ever got involved as
there were no financial needs,
adding: "This is a disaster for you
from a private and business perspective."
Handing Harvey, of Clifton
Road, Southampton, a 12-month
sentence, he said: "You threw caution
to the wind to provide banking
facilities. I am sure you were
well aware of what he (Ralph) was
doing. In effect, you were his facilitator.
You derived no profit and
probably lost a lot of money."
See today's Daily Echo for the full story
12:17pm Wednesday 20th August 2008
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CommentPosted by: Finlay, Des Moines, Iowa on 3:28pm Wed 20 Aug 08
[bold]Trio jailed for part in £2.74m vehicle swindle
By Jenny Makin[/bold]
THREE Hampshire men are today behind bars for their parts in an international industrial machinery swindling case which netted hundreds of thousands of pounds.
2.74M! They got "hundreds of thousands of pounds."
This doesnt hang together.
How do the plod know which machines are involved in this 'ring'?
Journalese rubbish yet again - Sparkle it up and introduce some 'maybes' and 'what ifs' and then spit out a story.
Why do you not report it as it is not how you would like it to be.
Trio jailed for part in £2.74m vehicle swindle
By Jenny Makin
THREE Hampshire men are today behind bars for their parts in an international industrial machinery swindling case which netted hundreds of thousands of pounds.
2.74M! They got "hundreds of thousands of pounds."
This doesnt hang together.
How do the plod know which machines are involved in this 'ring'?
Journalese rubbish yet again - Sparkle it up and introduce some 'maybes' and 'what ifs' and then spit out a story.
Why do you not report it as it is not how you would like it to be.
Posted by: Adrian Smith on 3:36pm Wed 20 Aug 08
Looks like someone didn't read the whole story...
Looks like someone didn't read the whole story...
Posted by: Fingley Dat Moans, Romsey on 4:06pm Wed 20 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Adrian Smith[/bold] wrote:
Looks like someone didn't read the whole story...[/quote] I think he's missed the point about 15 cases used in evidence, not necessarily all that were involved
Probably wouldn't happen in Iowa, that remarkable paradise in the good ol USofA that he's always banging on about!
Adrian Smith wrote:
Looks like someone didn't read the whole story...
I think he's missed the point about 15 cases used in evidence, not necessarily all that were involved
Probably wouldn't happen in Iowa, that remarkable paradise in the good ol USofA that he's always banging on about!
Posted by: Finlay, Des Moines, Iowa on 4:32pm Wed 20 Aug 08
I think he's missed the point about 15 cases used in evidence, not necessarily all that were involved
So how do tey get the figure 2.74M then Einstein as you seen to have a firm understanding. The floor is yours
I cant wait to see who has read the article now
I think he's missed the point about 15 cases used in evidence, not necessarily all that were involved
So how do tey get the figure 2.74M then Einstein as you seen to have a firm understanding. The floor is yours
I cant wait to see who has read the article now
Posted by: Fingley Dat Moans, Romsey on 4:48pm Wed 20 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Finlay[/bold] wrote:
I think he's missed the point about 15 cases used in evidence, not necessarily all that were involved So how do tey get the figure 2.74M then Einstein as you seen to have a firm understanding. The floor is yours I cant wait to see who has read the article now[/quote] It's normal to use specific cases as evidence in order to get a conviction, even though the actual ammounts involved (as seems the case here) may be considerably higher. They will now go for seizure of assets. If you look at the figures, the 15 they were convicted of (because of the evidence) were merely the tip of the iceberg.
Finlay wrote:
I think he's missed the point about 15 cases used in evidence, not necessarily all that were involved So how do tey get the figure 2.74M then Einstein as you seen to have a firm understanding. The floor is yours I cant wait to see who has read the article now
It's normal to use specific cases as evidence in order to get a conviction, even though the actual ammounts involved (as seems the case here) may be considerably higher. They will now go for seizure of assets. If you look at the figures, the 15 they were convicted of (because of the evidence) were merely the tip of the iceberg.
Posted by: Adrian Smith on 6:18pm Wed 20 Aug 08
[quote]Now the force is looking to recover its largest ever seizure of cash from the profits - a staggering £2.74m.[/quote]
So, Finlay Des Moines from Iowa, what was that about seeing who has read the story?
Now the force is looking to recover its largest ever seizure of cash from the profits - a staggering £2.74m.
So, Finlay Des Moines from Iowa, what was that about seeing who has read the story?
Posted by: if you sleep with dogs you get fleas, so'ton on 6:22pm Wed 20 Aug 08
I have a strong inkling Ralph and Harvey were in business together as far back as 10 years ago ....... they are as thick as thieves!
I have a strong inkling Ralph and Harvey were in business together as far back as 10 years ago ....... they are as thick as thieves!
Posted by: Steve on 6:40pm Wed 20 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Finlay[/bold] wrote:
[bold]Trio jailed for part in £2.74m vehicle swindle
By Jenny Makin[/bold]
THREE Hampshire men are today behind bars for their parts in an international industrial machinery swindling case which netted hundreds of thousands of pounds.
2.74M! They got "hundreds of thousands of pounds."
This doesnt hang together.
How do the plod know which machines are involved in this 'ring'?
Journalese rubbish yet again - Sparkle it up and introduce some 'maybes' and 'what ifs' and then spit out a story.
Why do you not report it as it is not how you would like it to be.
[/quote] What a **** you are. Did you actaully read the story?
I doubt looking at the rubbish you've just spouted.
Finlay wrote:
Trio jailed for part in £2.74m vehicle swindle
By Jenny Makin
THREE Hampshire men are today behind bars for their parts in an international industrial machinery swindling case which netted hundreds of thousands of pounds.
2.74M! They got "hundreds of thousands of pounds."
This doesnt hang together.
How do the plod know which machines are involved in this 'ring'?
Journalese rubbish yet again - Sparkle it up and introduce some 'maybes' and 'what ifs' and then spit out a story.
Why do you not report it as it is not how you would like it to be.
What a **** you are. Did you actaully read the story?
I doubt looking at the rubbish you've just spouted.
Posted by: dinlay, liowa on 9:09pm Wed 20 Aug 08
i don't think finlay lives in usa. probably still lives at his mums, in southampton, and has tried to invent an on-line persona to try and make himself appear interesting, if only in his own sad brain. tedious.
i don't think finlay lives in usa. probably still lives at his mums, in southampton, and has tried to invent an on-line persona to try and make himself appear interesting, if only in his own sad brain. tedious.
Posted by: Finlay, Des Moines, Iowa on 12:03am Thu 21 Aug 08
Ok Lets forget where I live - As I have said I LIVE in California and I WORK in Iowa but it doesnt matter where I live and work its neither here nor there but if you would like I can put I live in say Woolston. Is that better for you you Mr Cabbage?
So Finlay from Woolston says where do you get 2.74M pounds from?
Mr Potato Head produces an exert that states that "[bold]Now the force is looking to recover its largest ever seizure of cash from the profits - a staggering £2.74m."[/bold] From where?
Oh I forgot that you cant see from your jar at the factual content you just stir around till your liquid spouts out of the laboratory vessel but where are the facts?
You are gossip mongers. Go and pack fish thats what you're best at
Ok Lets forget where I live - As I have said I LIVE in California and I WORK in Iowa but it doesnt matter where I live and work its neither here nor there but if you would like I can put I live in say Woolston. Is that better for you you Mr Cabbage?
So Finlay from Woolston says where do you get 2.74M pounds from?
Mr Potato Head produces an exert that states that "
Now the force is looking to recover its largest ever seizure of cash from the profits - a staggering £2.74m." From where?
Oh I forgot that you cant see from your jar at the factual content you just stir around till your liquid spouts out of the laboratory vessel but where are the facts?
You are gossip mongers. Go and pack fish thats what you're best at
Posted by: George on 9:18am Thu 21 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Finlay[/bold] wrote:
Ok Lets forget where I live - As I have said I LIVE in California and I WORK in Iowa but it doesnt matter where I live and work its neither here nor there but if you would like I can put I live in say Woolston. Is that better for you you Mr Cabbage?
So Finlay from Woolston says where do you get 2.74M pounds from?
Mr Potato Head produces an exert that states that "[bold]Now the force is looking to recover its largest ever seizure of cash from the profits - a staggering £2.74m."[/bold] From where?
Oh I forgot that you cant see from your jar at the factual content you just stir around till your liquid spouts out of the laboratory vessel but where are the facts?
You are gossip mongers. Go and pack fish thats what you're best at
[/quote] I'm sorry, but these are nothing but the ramblings of a mad man.
There is no coherent structure or point.
And presented with evidence proving his wild assertions and complaints are well wide of the mark he turns to using a volley of, well, nothing but nonsensical sentences with a few playground insults.
People like this are what is wrong with the Internet.
Finlay wrote:
Ok Lets forget where I live - As I have said I LIVE in California and I WORK in Iowa but it doesnt matter where I live and work its neither here nor there but if you would like I can put I live in say Woolston. Is that better for you you Mr Cabbage?
So Finlay from Woolston says where do you get 2.74M pounds from?
Mr Potato Head produces an exert that states that "Now the force is looking to recover its largest ever seizure of cash from the profits - a staggering £2.74m." From where?
Oh I forgot that you cant see from your jar at the factual content you just stir around till your liquid spouts out of the laboratory vessel but where are the facts?
You are gossip mongers. Go and pack fish thats what you're best at
I'm sorry, but these are nothing but the ramblings of a mad man.
There is no coherent structure or point.
And presented with evidence proving his wild assertions and complaints are well wide of the mark he turns to using a volley of, well, nothing but nonsensical sentences with a few playground insults.
People like this are what is wrong with the Internet.
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