A CROOK selling a haul of stolen power tools on eBay was caught after the victim bought some of them and turned up at his door to collect them – with the police.

Jonathan Shaw had work equipment worth more than £2,600 taken when his Ford Transit van was broken into overnight in Colne, Burnley magistrates heard.

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He reported the crime to the police, but then turned detective and spotted some of the tools, still with a distinctive marking on them, being sold on the auction site.

After winning a bid, Mr Shaw got the seller’s address and went round to his home in Oswaldtwistle to pick them up.

Seller Julian Morris, 35, was arrested on his doorstep and more stolen tools were found in his house.

The defendant also had four snap bags of cannabis in his van.

Morris, of Fernlea Avenue, admitted handling stolen goods, including a multi tool, planers, saws, jigsaws, drills and nailers, worth £2,611.77 and belonging to Mr Shaw, on or between April 29 and May 5, at Oswaldtwistle and possessing cannabis on the same date.

He was bailed until the beginning of November for a pre-sentence report. The bench told the defendant the report would be ‘all options open’ and added: “That can be right through to custody.”

Prosecutor Tracy Yates said a large quantity of power tools were stolen on April 29. Mr Shaw’s wallet, with £275 cash inside it, was also stolen from the van. The victim began making his own inquiries and went on eBay, suspecting the power tools might be put up for auction.

Mrs Yates said tools were being sold by someone with the eBay ID JuMorris79. Mr Shaw had made some of his equipment instantly identifiable and he knew it was his.

A jigsaw was being sold which had been marked with his initials, but which could easily be taken off with nail varnish remover. It had initials in the same place on the listing description.

The prosecutor said: “Mr Shaw contacted the police to report what had happened. He attended the address and police were on standby. When the defendant opened the door and brought the items, he identified them as clearly having been stolen from his van. The defendant was arrested.” Morris’s address was searched and officers returned further tools to Mr Shaw. Six items which had been stolen were not recovered and that included the £25 wallet and £275 cash.

Police also found a hand-written list of power tools.

The prosecutor said Morris was interviewed at length and asked to account for the stolen tools on eBay.

He said he got them from somebody he knew - but refused to name the person - and claimed he was gullible.

The defendant fully admitted the offence and said he would have got the money either through PayPal or cash. He had 14 offences on his record.

Morris, who was not legally represented, told the bench: “We had just had a baby and I was skint.”

The defendant, who described himself as a ‘car booter’, said someone he met at a sale asked him if he wanted to sell some stuff on eBay for a 20 per cent cut. He said: “He told me he had bought them at a car boot. To be honest, I didn’t ask any questions. I’m sorry.”