Wickford crook tried to sell £2,000 of radio gear from amateur group

Thomas Mann has been given a community order after he admitted handling the stolen goods belonging to the amateur radio group at the beginning of last year.

The 42-year-old of Kenley Close, Wickford took part in shifting on the stolen goods for his own personal gain.

Basildon Magistrates’ Court heard that between January 18 and March 26 last year, Mann had tried to sell off a radio receiver worth £999.95 belonging to the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society, based in Danbury.

The same thing happened again on February 15, when he took a radio transceiver worth £1,199.95 to make the money for himself.

Finally, on March 26, he removed radio cables worth £64.95.

In total, Mann stole £2,264.85 worth of radio equipment from the society.

The court heard that on each occasion, Mann knew that the goods he was handling were stolen.

Mann admitted all three of the charges against him.

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The magistrates bench chose to give Mann a community order in light of his guilty pleas which will last until September 25 next year.

He must take part in a community sentence treatment for mental health for 12 days, along with 40 days of rehabilitation activity.

The magistrates bench also said Mann must pay £1,000 in compensation to his victims, which is less than half of the amount of equipment he tried to sell on.

If Mann does not complete the requirements of his community order, it will be a separate offence and he could be brought back before the courts again.