Two men who stole 13 classic Mini motor cars have been jailed for a total of six-and-a-half years, the Met reports.
Stephen Fiddimore, 36 (23.04.79) of Shearwater, Longfield in Kent pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal motor vehicles and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years' imprisonment.
Sam Metten, 28 (20.01.88) of Polsteads, Basildon in Essex was found guilty of conspiracy to steal motor vehicles after a week-long trial and jailed for three years.
An investigation into the theft of classic Mini cars across the south east led officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Organised Vehicle Crime Unit (OVCU) to investigate the activities of both men, who ran an eBay business from a lock-up garage in Horton Kirby, Kent. The business dealt exclusively in classic Mini cars and vehicle parts.
On 28 April 2015, officers carried out multiple search warrants at the following addresses:
- Oakview Stud Farm, Lombard Street, Horton Kirby, Kent
- Lock-up garage, Cross Lane West, Gravesend, Kent
- Lock-up garage, Carrington Road, Dartford, Kent
- Lock-up garage, Crayford Way, Crayford, Kent
- Shearwater, Longfield, Kent
- Polsteads, Basildon, Essex.
Property seized at each of these premises linked the defendants to the criminal enterprise.
In addition, two vehicles seized from the defendants' home addresses were found to be stolen and cloned.
Fiddimore and Metten were able to use their specialist knowledge to gain entry to the vehicles and ‘hotwire’ the immobilisers in order to drive them away.
Detectives believe that the pair may have been responsible for the theft of more than 40 vehicles across London, Kent and Essex between August 2014 and May 2015.
Detective Inspector Caroline Clooney, of the Met’s Organised Vehicle Crime Unit, said: "These men systematically targeted the owners of classic Minis across the south east. Many of the vehicles had been lovingly restored and were the owners’ pride and joy. Discovering that their cars had been stolen obviously caused them much distress and inconvenience.
“I am pleased with the sentences handed down and hope it sends out a message that the Met is serious about tackling car crime and will always seek to destroy the activities of individuals involved in it."
Sentencing took place on Monday, 11 April at Inner London Crown Court.
Stephen Fiddimore, 36 (23.04.79) of Shearwater, Longfield in Kent pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal motor vehicles and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years' imprisonment.
Sam Metten, 28 (20.01.88) of Polsteads, Basildon in Essex was found guilty of conspiracy to steal motor vehicles after a week-long trial and jailed for three years.
An investigation into the theft of classic Mini cars across the south east led officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Organised Vehicle Crime Unit (OVCU) to investigate the activities of both men, who ran an eBay business from a lock-up garage in Horton Kirby, Kent. The business dealt exclusively in classic Mini cars and vehicle parts.
On 28 April 2015, officers carried out multiple search warrants at the following addresses:
- Oakview Stud Farm, Lombard Street, Horton Kirby, Kent
- Lock-up garage, Cross Lane West, Gravesend, Kent
- Lock-up garage, Carrington Road, Dartford, Kent
- Lock-up garage, Crayford Way, Crayford, Kent
- Shearwater, Longfield, Kent
- Polsteads, Basildon, Essex.
Property seized at each of these premises linked the defendants to the criminal enterprise.
In addition, two vehicles seized from the defendants' home addresses were found to be stolen and cloned.
Fiddimore and Metten were able to use their specialist knowledge to gain entry to the vehicles and ‘hotwire’ the immobilisers in order to drive them away.
Detectives believe that the pair may have been responsible for the theft of more than 40 vehicles across London, Kent and Essex between August 2014 and May 2015.
Detective Inspector Caroline Clooney, of the Met’s Organised Vehicle Crime Unit, said: "These men systematically targeted the owners of classic Minis across the south east. Many of the vehicles had been lovingly restored and were the owners’ pride and joy. Discovering that their cars had been stolen obviously caused them much distress and inconvenience.
“I am pleased with the sentences handed down and hope it sends out a message that the Met is serious about tackling car crime and will always seek to destroy the activities of individuals involved in it."
Sentencing took place on Monday, 11 April at Inner London Crown Court.
The lowest of the low
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