A SCRAP dealer who fled to India when he was convicted of handling stolen cars and parts has been jailed for 18 months.

Manubhai Gosai Patel claimed he went to a family wedding and then fell and ended up in hospital preventing his return.

During his stay in hospital where he was treated for an injured back his passport was stolen and he could not get a replacement until July 9.

The 50 year-old father of three had been convicted of 13 counts of handling just under £10,000 worth of stolen car parts and whole vehicles after a trial in November last year.

The scrap dealer had denied that he knew the cars and parts of vehicles he was buying had been stolen.

The court heard previously that Patel claimed he had bought cars and spare parts from people who had left their names and addresses with him.

But when police checked those names and addresses in Bury, Accrington and Manchester they all turned out to be false.

Patel, of Gilnow Lane, Bolton was jailed for 18 months at Manchester Crown Court yesterday for handling stolen cars or parts of cars found at MG Salvage in Bury.

The court had been told that when police searched his scrapyard they discovered parts of up to 18 cars which had previously been stolen.

Undamaged body shells, door panels, bonnets, wing panels and engines belonging to Nissan Sunnys, Nissan Micras, Rovers, Peugeots and Toyotas were found in one corner of the yard.

Identifying features such as number plates were found partially burned in a bin and side windows etched with car details had been smashed, but otherwise the parts had not been accident damaged.

Hidden inside an old BT truck police found personal effects, including map books, scarves, umbrellas and glasses, which were later identified by owners of the stolen cars.

In statements given to police when he was arrested Patel said he had sold around 10 engines to a man called Chindoon who he thought was from Nigeria or Ghana.

Other cars and parts had been brought into the yard by men who left their names and addresses but which later turned out to be false.

Patel produced receipts relating to the 18 cars under investigation but, according to the police statements, he was vague about who he bought or sold cars from and the receipts were from a different set of receipt books

apparently in use at the time of the raid.

He told police officers interviewing him that he could not be responsible for people leaving false names and addresses when they brought parts into the yard.

He said that he had bought all the cars and parts in good faith and had no reason to suspect they had been stolen. He said he was not the type of man to steal cars.

Patel rented the scrapyard for £35 a week from a Mr Islam who had cleared the yard before renting it out.

When police raided the yard they discovered the remains of burnt number plates, smashed windows and lots of undamaged doors, panels and engines which they traced to 18 different stolen vehicles.

Judge Reginald Lockett praised the police officers who investigated the case saying they had worked hard preparing the case.