Three caught handling stolen farm machinery in Somerset
Three men involved in dealing in farm machinery in Somerset have admitted handling stolen goods[1] and have been sentenced. Harry Hollowell, aged 25 of Jellicoe Road, in Yeovil, and 23-year-old Vincent Bruce, of Bearley Lane, Tintinhull, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, December 22[2], having purchased farm machinery stolen from farm burglaries in the Sedgemoor area of West Somerset during 2020.
They also bought and sold stolen plant machinery which had been taken from building sites in the Cardiff area in 2020. All of which caused big financial losses to many farmers, landowners and small businesses.
A third man, 43-year-old Piotr Szor from Reading, was also sentenced at the same time as Hollowell and Bruce after pleading guilty to conspiracy to handle stolen goods for an unrelated incident. The court heard how in October 2020, a tractor and telehandler worth around £80,000 were stolen from a farm burglary in East Somerset and that Szor had organised for the machinery to be loaded onto a lorry bound for Poland.
However, officers intercepted the lorry, recovered the machinery, and arrested Szor for his involvement. Szor was sentenced to one year imprisonment, suspended for two years.
Hollowell and Bruce were snared when, on Friday, October 16, 2020, officers from the Operation Remedy team executed a stolen goods search warrant at a farm in South Barrow, near Sparkford.
The team, who specialise in dealing with burglaries and crime series, discovered and seized 20 stolen machines, with further machines since recovered throughout the investigation.
Harry Hollowell, Vincent Bruce and Piotr Szor were all engaged in handling stolen farm and construction machinery (Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
Hollowell was sentenced to three years and two months imprisonment and Bruce for one year and four months. Bruce had his sentence suspended for two years and so walked free from court.
In sentencing, His Honour Judge McMillan said Hollowell had “played the leading role in a professional and sophisticated enterprise” and he had profited from the loss and stress of people who were “almost like neighbours”.
Speaking following the sentencing hearing, Detective Superintendent James Raphael said: “The theft of plant and agricultural machinery and tools has a detrimental impact on the farming community who work tirelessly to provide for our communities.
“The needless acts of Hollowell, Bruce and Szor have cost the victims hundreds of thousands of pounds in both materials and time. We are dedicated to supporting our rural communities and this case is a great example of the work carried out by our Operation Remedy and Rural Affairs Unit, working in collaboration with our vehicle examiners.
“We hope it is reassuring to people in the rural community that action is being taken against criminals who steal the livelihoods of others.”
Avon and Somerset Police said that the theft of agriculture plant and machinery is an ever-growing issue across the UK. Items are hugely expensive and easy to sell for profit and often targeted by organised criminal groups.
Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford said: “This case serves as a stern reminder of the scale of rural crime, which is why as Police and Crime Commissioner, combating rural crime is one of my top priorities. These criminal activities have financial, time, and emotional impacts on the farming community who work tirelessly to provide for our communities.
“I applaud the work done by Operation Remedy team in bringing these prolific offenders to justice and I encourage anyone affected by farm machinery theft to report it to the police.”
Officers advise anyone with equipment to get it marked, securely stored, and have CCTV installed in areas where tools and machinery are kept. If you see any suspicious behaviour around your rural community, especially in areas with farms and agricultural land, please reach out to Avon and Somerset Police’s Rural Affairs Unit or contact the force via 101 (non-emergency number) or 999 (in an emergency when there is a risk to life).
References
- ^ handling stolen goods (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Bristol Crown Court on Friday, December 22 (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
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