Stolen tractor man in court

Geoffrey Hallimond attracted suspicion after offering the £9,000 machine on sale for just £3,000.

Sam Skinner, prosecuting, said a prospective buyer who viewed the tractor at Hallimond’s workshop later checked out the serial number on the engine and discovered it was stolen.

Police were alerted and when they searched Hallimond’s workshop in the village of Welton they discovered the stolen tractor being used to power a wood cutting machine.

Parts of a second stolen tractor were also found at the workshop.

Mr Skinner said the first tractor had been stolen in July 2010 from a farmer in Welton. The farmer rented a £16,000 replacement and that was also stolen six weeks later.

Hallimond, 36, of Beckett Avenue, Gainsborough, admitted possession of criminal property. Sentence was deferred for six months.

Jeremy Janes, defending, said Hallimond paid £3,000 for the first tractor and put it up for sale for the same price hoping to recoup the money.

“He is not a professional fence. He is a hard working individual and for him to lose his good character is significant in itself.”

“This has been a big shock to him. He has learned a salutary lesson from this.”