Police have welcomed the sentencing of a man who was found to have handled stolen goods after a £15,000 caravan was found on his driveway.

James Maughan, 61, of Middle Ground, A418, Wheatley, was sentenced to a year and three months in prison, suspended for two years.

Investigating officer PC Ryan Dollery, of the Rural Crime Taskforce, said after the sentencing that the "taskforce takes all reports of thefts and handling stolen goods offences very seriously".

James Maughan, 61, of Middle Ground, A418, Wheatley, was sentenced to a year and three months in prison, suspended for two years.

The Bailey Unicorn caravan was stolen two years ago, in the early hours of 21 December 2021 from a farm in Compton, Berkshire.

At around 10am the same day, officers from the Rural Crime Taskforce located it on Maughan’s driveway in Middle Ground, Wheatley.

Maughan was charged by postal requisition on 12 January.

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He was found guilty of one count of handling stolen goods at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on September 1.

Sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Monday (October 9) Maughan was also ordered to pay £500 in compensation and a £156 victim surcharge, as well as complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was also given an electronic curfew for five months.

Investigating officer PC Ryan Dollery, of the Rural Crime Taskforce, said: “The taskforce takes all reports of thefts and handling stolen goods offences very seriously.

“This caravan was stolen from a farm but we promptly located it and returned it to the victim.

“The taskforce works with all police forces to bring rural crime offenders to justice so there is nowhere for criminals to hide.”