Man convicted of handling stolen goods – Wheatley, Oxfordshire

Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police’s Rural Crime Taskforce, a man has been convicted of handling stolen goods in Wheatley, Oxfordshire.

James Maughan, aged 61, of Middle Ground, A418, Wheatley, was found guilty of one count of handling stolen goods at Oxford Magistrates’ Court today (1/9).

He is due to be sentenced on 27 September.

In the early hours of the morning of 21 December 2021, a Bailey Unicorn caravan, worth £15,000, was stolen from a farm in Compton, Berkshire.

At around 10am the same day, officers from the Rural Crime Taskforce located the caravan on Maughan’s driveway in Middle Ground, Wheatley.

Maughan was charged by postal requisition on 12 January.

Investigating officer PC Ryan Dollery, of the Rural Crime Taskforce, said: “This conviction is greatly welcomed by the taskforce and the victim who had their caravan stolen but returned shortly afterwards.

“The Rural Crime Taskforce is focused on making the Thames Valley a hostile area for offenders and bringing those who target our rural communities to justice.

“We also work across borders with the other police forces in the UK so criminals cannot hide.”

JD