Knutsford man guilty of handling stolen tractor

A Knutsford man has been found guilty of handling a stolen John Deere tractor worth more than £20,000 

On 1st May 2015, Andrew Callwood, of Seven Sisters Lane, Knutsford, appeared at Chester Magistrates Court charged with Handling Stolen Goods, namely a John Deere 6320 tractor. Callwood had pleaded Not Guilty to the offence. 

The Court heard that on the afternoon of Tuesday 8th April 2014, PC Millar, an officer with Cheshire Police Motorcyclist Roads Policing Operations Team was undertaking patrol duties on the A556, Chester Road, Northwich when he caused a John Deere 6320 tractor and trailer to stop. The officer had noted that there was no rear registration mark on the trailer and that it obscured the registration mark of the tractor. On stopping the tractor, PC Millar noticed further discrepancies with the tractor’s vehicle excise licence. 

The tractor and trailer were seized by Police and later examined by a Cheshire Police Stolen Vehicle Examiner who concluded that the John Deere 6320 tractor was an outstanding stolen tractor having been stolen from Staffordshire in August 2009. 

The court heard that Andrew Callwood had been in possession of the stolen tractor, which he had claimed that he had bought with no receipts or paperwork for £5,200 in 2012. 
The John Deere 6320 tractor had been valued at £28,500 at the time of the theft by the insurer NFU Mutual. 

Magistrates did not agree with Callwood’s explanation and he was found guilty.  He received a fine of £2048.00 plus costs of £620.00. In addition, Callwood also received 125 hours unpaid community service. 

PC Mike Dawber, stolen vehicle examiner with Cheshire Police said “This sends out a clear message that rural areas are not a soft touch and if you are involved with committing rural crime in Cheshire or elsewhere, that irrespective of time, we will track you down and put you in front of the Courts.”