A man who had his neighbour’s ’eyesore’ van towed away by scrap merchants has been fined £500.

Graham Peter Skillicorn, of Cushag Road, Douglas, even accepted £60 from the company for the vehicle after passing it off as his own.

The 60-year-old appeared before High Bailiff Jayne Hughes for sentencing on Tuesday.

We previously reported that the complainant’s Nissan van had been parked outside his home in Cushag Road between July 2018 and August 2019 without moving.

On August 9, the complainant’s wife told him that his van was on a tow truck outside but by the time he went out the van had been taken away.

He contacted numerous businesses to try to find out which company had towed it but was then told by another neighbour that it had been taken by Northern Scrap Metals.

Compensation

The complainant informed the police and the company said they had been contacted by a man named ’Graham’ who arranged for the van to be towed.

The company paid Skillicorn £60 and gave him a receipt.

It was said that the van had a smashed window but it was not established how this had occurred.

When quizzed by police, Skillicorn told them: ’I did get rid of the van because it was an eyesore.’

During an interview he answered ’no comment’ to all further questions.

The court heard that he has numerous previous convictions. Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain said that the complainant had purchased the van in March 2018 for £4,500, with a £1,000 interest charge, and that he still had £3,807 left to pay.

Defence advocate Paul Rodgers handed in a doctor’s letter in relation to his client who it was said had a history of mental health problems.

Mr Rodgers said that the scrap metal company had described Skillicorn’s manner when he called as ’almost vacant’, ’very strange’, and ’almost like he was drunk’.

’It is not being said that he was drunk,’ said the advocate.

’But he was not in a good state of mind.’

’Mr Skillicorn represented that the vehicle was his.

’We are not sure if it has been scrapped or sold.

’It is unclear why the scrap metal merchants felt there was enough evidence to take the vehicle.

’In my submission they are at least partly culpable.’

Mr Rodgers went on to refer to the condition of the vehicle saying that the complainant last took it out in June 2018 when the engine blew up and it had to be recovered.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told Skillicorn: ’You may have been frustrated but there were other steps you could have taken.

’You accepted £60 knowing you weren’t entitled to it.’

Skillicorn admitted fraud by false representation.

He was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs as well as £60 compensation to his neighbour.

He will pay the fine, costs and compensation at a rate of £10 per week deducted from benefits.