AN ANTIQUES dealer found guilty of conspiracy to handle stolen goods from a robbery in Aldsworth was sent to five years in prison today (April 25).
Philip Capewell (64) must serve at least half of the sentence before being released on licence after the jury at Hove Crown Court found him guilty of the offence.
The stolen items were taken from a violent robbery where an elderly couple were thre
atened to have their fingernails removed by pliers if they did not hand over antiques to a gang of robbers in balaclavas.
Wolfgang Schmelz (57) and Christopher Doughty (48) who are charged with robbery pleaded guilty to conspiring with Capewell to handle the stolen goods from the Aldsworth robbery.
After the sentence was dealt Detective Sergeant Paul Sellings, of the Major Crime Branch at Sussex Police said: "Philip Capewell is a sophisticated, professional handler of stolen goods. "Within hours of receiving the stolen property from the Aldsworth house robbery he disappeared then through out the south of England.
"Without such people, thieves are unable to make a profit for their crimes. The sentence handed down today sets a clear message that men like Philip Capewell will be treated seriously by the courts."
During the trial Capewell was found guilty for handling stolen goods on four counts but was found not guilty for the same offence on four counts.
He was also acquitted for conspiring with Daniel Brummer to handle stolen goods.
Walton Hornsby, prosecuting, said that items worth £77,000 were recovered from the Aldsworth robbery which took place in June 2006.
Capewell has appeared in court on five occasions in the past for thirteen offences of handling stolen goods between 1975 to 1987.
Richard Cherrill, defending, said of Capewell 'This man has good in him and not all bad'. He also said that Capewell had been suffering from depression for the last six years.
Judge Guy Anthony said: "You are a professional handler of stolen goods and if there were no handlers there would be few thiefs. I bear in mind your age and less than perfect health.
"You demonstrated no remorse whatsoever and gave no assistance to the police. You are the sort of person that gives antique dealers a bad name."
The jury at Hove Crown Court were unable to give a verdict for the charge of robbery for Schmelz and Doughty and was discharged on Friday (April 24).
The trial will commence again on Jan 5, 2009.
The full article contains 419 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
