A CONVICTED thief has admitted handling a stolen car - 22 years after his last conviction for stealing and fraudulently selling on a mobility car.

Ian Wyllie of Regency Road, Malvern, admitted handling a stolen Audi RS Q3 when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday.

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The 52-year-old had previously denied a charge of conspiracy to handle stolen goods.

However, the charge of simple handling was put to him at the hearing and he pleaded guilty to that offence which took place between December 12, 2019 and December 27, 2019.

The wording of the charge he accepted was that he 'dishonestly undertook or assisted in the retention, removal, disposal or realisation of stolen goods'.

His co-defendant, Zabier Riasat, 40, of Stanley Road, Worcester had also denied conspiracy to handle stolen goods.

He did not attend the hearing on Wednesday and so the simple handling charge could not be put to him. His case will be listed for a mention hearing on May 25.

Michael Aspinall, defending, asked for the sentence of Wyllie to be adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

"His last conviction was 22 years ago," he said.

The court heard he had been imprisoned for obtaining property by deception.

Amanda O'Mara, prosecuting, said the last convictions were for theft and fraud, involving taking a mobility car and selling it on.

"That's why it's theft and fraud," she said.

Wyllie has submitted a basis of plea in which he says he did not know when he picked up the car it was stolen but later became suspicious.

Granting an adjournment, Judge Nicholas Cole said he was not going to sentence Wyllie today.

He told Wyllie he needed 'more information about you as to why you have committed this offence' before proceeding to sentence. He stressed that he made 'no promises' about what the sentence would be but added: "All options, including a sentence of immediate custody, remain open."

The sentence hearing was adjourned for a date to be fixed after the hearing involving his co-defendant, Riasat.

Wyllie was granted bail on condition he co-operates with the probation service in the preparation of the pre-sentence report.