Robert Thompson, 35, of Church Road, Hove, has admitted to receiving stolen goods, using fraudulent number plates, and possession of Class A drug cocaine. He was arrested by officers from the Specialist Enforcement Unit (SEU) on January 13, 2022.
On January 6, 2021, Thompson was caught driving a black Range Rover Velar fitted with false number plates. The luxury vehicle had been stolen from a property in West Drayton in December 2020. GPS data from Thompson’s phone placed him in West Drayton on the day the Range Rover was taken. The fake number plates he used were linked to another stolen vehicle from Hove in August 2020.
After being released under investigation, police discovered a stolen Citroen Nemo van with forged plates parked outside Thompson’s home on January 13, 2022. A search of the property uncovered the van’s keys and a quantity of cocaine. Thompson was arrested and charged following this discovery.
Further forensic evidence, including DNA and fingerprints, connected Thompson to a stolen BMW from Worthing taken in June 2020 and a Range Rover stolen from Lancing the same year. The total value of all the stolen vehicles exceeded £75,000.
At Lewes Crown Court on February 14, Thompson pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods and using fraudulent registration marks. He also admitted to possession of cocaine on January 15. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 17, with the court location to be confirmed.
Detective Sergeant Tom Duffy, the investigating officer, said, “Robert Thompson has a proven track record of vehicle theft over a number of years, which has had a significant impact on his victims. This conviction is down to incredible teamwork from SEU and Response officers, as well as investigators who linked Thompson to offences spanning more than two years. I thank the victims and everyone involved for helping bring him to justice.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
