THEFT / FRAUD IN CORNWALL (Again)

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Pymmie
Posts: 3065
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 6:03 pm
Location: Newton Abbot , Devon

THEFT / FRAUD IN CORNWALL (Again)

Post by Pymmie »

I feel as a Jensen owner , enthusiast and Area Rep I should post the info I have received.

I'm sure most forum members are aware of the trouble caused by 'Steve Gould' based
in Cornwall over the last 6/7 years. Steve has 'stolen' in the past a sewing machine and full
interior trim to SP No.2 (Owner Andy Brooks) as well as letting down many UK & USA based
owners with false promises and unfinished , missing parts.

See topic : http://www.joc.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... en#p193508" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Anyway back to the present day. Steve was bailed out financially a few years back by Dean Stamp.
Dean made Steve carry on working to pay off the debt he owed him and to assist him with the restoration of cars
and to re-trim cars under the 'classic trimmers' banner.

Still working illegally from remote farm buildings Nr Roskrow in Cornwall and without proper insurance
they continued to trade via website & Ebay advertising.

I visited the buildings with a local South West enthusiast in March 2017 to view one of two cars for sale.
Both cars were customers cars and not owned by Dean Stamp or Steve Gould.

A deal was stuck on a Blue Mk3 at around £14.5K. The present owner was informed of a pending sale and
by April 2017 the Mk3 was with its new owner.

The customer was told his car has sold for £11K and that his Green Mk1 also for sale needed engine work.

The sellers Mk1 was delivered with a current MOT and was a complete 100% car needing tidying/fettling etc.

He was told in July this year the car had needed a full engine & gearbox overhaul and a bill of £8K had
been rackied up! With the sale of his Mk3 at only £11K (untrue) he was due around £3K.

The seller eventually lost faith in Dean and headed to Cornwall to pick up his Green Mk1. Unfortunately
he spent most of the day trying to trace Dean , Steve and his car. He was given a postcode only to a
industrial estate where he drove around for hours looking for his car.

It was found outside a storage unit with no sign of anyone.

The car is not complete. Around £3K arrived via a bank transfer.

In fact its in a poor condition, lots of essential parts are missing.

Some parts have been swapped for more inferior parts.

The engine has not been rebuilt , the gearbox has been painted!

It has been viewed by a knowledgeable Jensen owner who has compiled
a list of whats missing. The seller has sent me a complete photo album of
the car when it went to Cornwall and when it returned.

I believe the owner of his other car , the Blue Mk3 has also discovered that
again the car has lots of missing parts and the car doesnt have whats in the photos
when it went to Cornwall.

While gathering this info I have since discovered that the owner of a White SP has
also been 'shafted'. How many more...

So , what can be done ? Police , Court , Trading standards , Media ???

John P
Attachments
Different bumpers ?
Different bumpers ?
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Mirror swapped !
Mirror swapped !
100_1467.jpg (109.07 KiB) Viewed 5219 times
Before & Complete
Before & Complete
00434.jpg (110.64 KiB) Viewed 5219 times
Different Rad !
Different Rad !
100_1487.jpg (285.54 KiB) Viewed 5219 times
100_1456.jpg
100_1456.jpg (135.3 KiB) Viewed 5219 times
Whats missing ?
Whats missing ?
100_1450.jpg (145.28 KiB) Viewed 5219 times
Engine bay - nothing connected
Engine bay - nothing connected
100_1448.jpg (137.7 KiB) Viewed 5219 times
Car as found in Cornwall
Car as found in Cornwall
100_1455.jpg (159.41 KiB) Viewed 5219 times
Previous Jensen Owner 2010-2022 (128/4451)

Understeer - Hitting the fence with the front of the car
Oversteer - Hitting the fence with the rear of the car
Horsepower -How fast you hit the fence
Torque - How far you take the fence with you
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Grant
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Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 1:11 pm
Location: surrey

Re: THEFT / FRAUD IN CORNWALL (Again)

Post by Grant »

:shock: Bad news!!, from my experience in life John.. you cant get blood out of a stone, you just have to wipe your mouth of these clowns, unless obviously you resort to violence, but then you put yourself and your liberty on the line with that, :oops: it never gets you back what you've lost :cry:
This isn't the same clowns that have the Manual one you know about is it? :?
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Chris_R
JOC General Secretary
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Re: THEFT / FRAUD IN CORNWALL (Again)

Post by Chris_R »

Pymmie wrote:
So , what can be done ? Police , Court , Trading standards , Media ???

John P
The owners are the ones to take action. Theft is theft and that can be reported to the police. After that it becomes a Police matter but it is for the victim to report the case to the Police.
Poor workmanship or supply of shoddy service or otherwise not doing what was agreed can be sued in the courts. This always supposes that the defendant has any resources to pay compensation. The small claims court can be used up to £10,000 and the burden of proof is not so high and no lawyers are involved but this is for the victim to decide and pursue. Not sure if you can use the small claims courts to sue for theft or for fraudulent activities, you'd have to look on the Government websites to see what kinds of cases can be done in the small claims courts.
Trading Standards would (should) be interested. They can also take action against illegal trading. I suppose as a representative of the club and keen to protect members interests you have a legitimate reason to report all this to Trading Standards. You have no interest in reporting the theft or for suing in the courts, those are for the victims to decide.
Chris
JOC Member 6116
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Pymmie
Posts: 3065
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 6:03 pm
Location: Newton Abbot , Devon

Re: THEFT / FRAUD IN CORNWALL (Again)

Post by Pymmie »

Hi Grant,

It is indeed. Guess he 'stole' the Mk1 parts for that one.

Other parts missing -

Front Grill
Fans & Shrouds
Aerial
Front indicator lenses

Interior & front damaged...

John P
Previous Jensen Owner 2010-2022 (128/4451)

Understeer - Hitting the fence with the front of the car
Oversteer - Hitting the fence with the rear of the car
Horsepower -How fast you hit the fence
Torque - How far you take the fence with you
Pymmie
Posts: 3065
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 6:03 pm
Location: Newton Abbot , Devon

Re: THEFT / FRAUD IN CORNWALL (Again)

Post by Pymmie »

Chris R ,

You are indeed correct.
The customer is mentally exhausted and financially drained.

His partner has a terminal illness and he can't focus or give the
matter it's full attention.

I'm also concerned that Cornwall is always linked with shoddy work
when they have some fantastic garages. Just look at what Finches are doing to
Toby's car and have done with Rivron's SP.

John P
Previous Jensen Owner 2010-2022 (128/4451)

Understeer - Hitting the fence with the front of the car
Oversteer - Hitting the fence with the rear of the car
Horsepower -How fast you hit the fence
Torque - How far you take the fence with you
User avatar
Chris_R
JOC General Secretary
Posts: 6576
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 9:19 am
Location: South West London

Re: THEFT / FRAUD IN CORNWALL (Again)

Post by Chris_R »

It's an unfortunate circumstance and a sad situation but apart from alerting the community to their misdeeds and involving Trading Standards under your role as an area rep there is little more you can do for the victims.
Chris
JOC Member 6116
--------------------------------------------------
AH1951
Posts: 3836
Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2013 5:07 pm

Re: THEFT / FRAUD IN CORNWALL (Again)

Post by AH1951 »

If someone in the club, perhaps a victim, feels it's possible and realistic to make a court case, or take some other action against this thief, I would certainly be willing to make a contribution of a couple of hundred pounds towards the cost.
And maybe a few other members would also be prepared to contribute something.
It's time this character was stopped.
Perhaps someone knowledgeable about the details of this case could consult a solicitor?
Adrian
colin7673
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Re: THEFT / FRAUD IN CORNWALL (Again)

Post by colin7673 »

The police do know about Steve as they have had many reports about him, the Cornwall police have travelled up to Peterborough to talk to a Jensen Owner.. It turns out that this Jensen owner was storing a Jensen shell for Steve, while Steve and Co was restoring his car,,, After a few years this Jensen Owner had had enough, got his car back, in boxes and many pounds lighter.... The Jensen Shell that was being stored, somehow got stolen... No further action was taken :wink:

Apparently
Only working half a day now.
http://www.jensensontour.co.uk
Wilson Way
Posts: 141
Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2017 10:08 am
Location: Torquay

Re: THEFT / FRAUD IN CORNWALL (Again)

Post by Wilson Way »

John
As far as Cornwall goes
Look what Steve Kilby has done with mine ....
I'm deliriously happy with it

Just a thought has anyone ever ....... had a car repaired properly by these con men ?
toys did include
1971 Volvo P1800E
1985 E30 M3 2.3
S2 E-Type Caterham MGB and virago 1100
now 128-4832 ..... ERY 445L now changed to 3030 MW
One of my favourite quotes “Quality isn't expensive, it's priceless.”
Pymmie
Posts: 3065
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 6:03 pm
Location: Newton Abbot , Devon

Re: THEFT / FRAUD IN CORNWALL (Again)

Post by Pymmie »

AH1951 wrote:If someone in the club, perhaps a victim, feels it's possible and realistic to make a court case, or take some other action against this thief, I would certainly be willing to make a contribution of a couple of hundred pounds towards the cost.
And maybe a few other members would also be prepared to contribute something.
It's time this character was stopped.
Perhaps someone knowledgeable about the details of this case could consult a solicitor?
Adrian
Thats a generous offer Adrian and typical of the Jensen community as a whole.

I might put out a call for a Jensen owner who is also a lawyer/solicitor who could assist.
With the combined effort of 2/3 owners something might happen.

John P
Previous Jensen Owner 2010-2022 (128/4451)

Understeer - Hitting the fence with the front of the car
Oversteer - Hitting the fence with the rear of the car
Horsepower -How fast you hit the fence
Torque - How far you take the fence with you
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R.D. Sigi Herring
Posts: 323
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2014 11:29 am
Location: Rugby & Cider Country (aka Somerset)

Re: THEFT / FRAUD IN CORNWALL (Again)

Post by R.D. Sigi Herring »

Very sad.
Owners should rely on the Jensen Community to help out, and protect decent honest people.
Suggestions.

Nr. 1 - Create a 'Rogue's Gallery' or 'Bad Traders' link on the JOC site. Correctly moderated, and perhaps with a less aggressive description, those who have had bad experiences should be able to detail them. JOC should promote best practice for owners.
Nr. 2 - Locate some photo's of the gentlemen concerned, and post them on said gallery. This will help in the future as members will know who need be looking out for. It's unlikely they'll get cosmetic surgery, and they are unlikely to complain as they know what they've done.
Nr. 3 - As a group, we should stand up for what's right. So, perhaps the JOC would like to invest in a Private Eye, as I'm sure it wouldn't take long for these gentlemen to be found if there is a profit motive involved.

Only suggestions you understand, to provoke a positive discussion ..!
I can hear the 'tut-tut, can't possibly do that' comments coming this way already..!
Enjoy the discussion. :lol:
CURRENT GARAGE
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Pymmie
Posts: 3065
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 6:03 pm
Location: Newton Abbot , Devon

Re: THEFT / FRAUD IN CORNWALL (Again)

Post by Pymmie »

Sigi,

Totally agree with everything you said, as an area rep i will bring it up at the next meeting.

Quick update :

Spoke to the new owner of the Blue Mk3 sold by Dean / Steve.

He has photos of the car before it went to Cornwall, and something looked different.

The car has been relieved of it 20 J wheel nuts and now has a variety of different sized and

condition nuts! Couldn't make it up ....

John P
Previous Jensen Owner 2010-2022 (128/4451)

Understeer - Hitting the fence with the front of the car
Oversteer - Hitting the fence with the rear of the car
Horsepower -How fast you hit the fence
Torque - How far you take the fence with you
AH1951
Posts: 3836
Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2013 5:07 pm

Re: THEFT / FRAUD IN CORNWALL (Again)

Post by AH1951 »

The JOC website has a very limited audience compared to the wider world.
No, the first step should be to contact a solicitor.
It won't cost very much for just an hour of his time.
Then you'll know how to proceed.
Don't go down the road of trying to shame or make this rogue's own life difficult as such things can easily backfire and bring unintended consequences.
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R.D. Sigi Herring
Posts: 323
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2014 11:29 am
Location: Rugby & Cider Country (aka Somerset)

Re: THEFT / FRAUD IN CORNWALL (Again)

Post by R.D. Sigi Herring »

I do understand the reluctance to act, as all backfiring should be avoided.
However, sometime there is a need to stand up and be counted.
Know the law...sure thing.!
But this has to stop.
They managed to get away with this for so long because of this fear, and they know nothing will happen....so they will carry on unchallenged.
So, the options are :

Say nothing, hope it goes away, hope you dont get caught out, and rely on 'caveat emptor' for everyone else...(oh, bad luck/tough luck if they do get caught out...!)

Or

Collectively stand up, say "no More', and make life as difficult legally as possible for these 2x scumbags. Together we stand etc etc.

It could just be a West Country 'Rugby' thing, but as a team we stand more chance of success than individually leaving it to owners to fight for themselves. Should we not be there, to lend a hand..?
CURRENT GARAGE
An entertaining collection of British & German bits of metal, that are now being sold off.
JOC Nr. 10180
AH1951
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Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2013 5:07 pm

Re: THEFT / FRAUD IN CORNWALL (Again)

Post by AH1951 »

Contacting a solicitor isn't a reluctance to act, it's taking advice on how to proceed.
By collecting some cash, in order to pay a solicitor, maybe the victims can be helped in making their claim, if they wish to pursue the case.
Last edited by AH1951 on Tue Aug 01, 2017 5:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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