Imran Sadiq Khan [2019] EWCA Crim 1305

The appellant pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and was sentenced to 2 years and 8 months’ imprisonment.

During the course of police surveillance for an unrelated matter the appellant was seen in a unit in which a considerable number of car parts were subsequently found. The parts came from 16 stolen vehicles. The appellant said that he was employed at the unit and did not know any of the vehicles were stolen, in a later interview he said he “ask no questions, tell no lies”, £13,000 was a valuation for the parts.

Held: the culpability was high; this was a professional and sophisticated offence with the appellant as a hired hand.

The judge should have made a further reduction for the personal mitigation, considerable delay, his considerable genuine responsibilities and the fact he had not re-offended for a period. The sentence was quashed, and imprisonment of 2 years and 2 months substituted.