A former mayor of Didcot and his wife were among five people who appeared in court yesterday (December 21), charged with a range of offences involving stolen goods.
Harold Swanborough, 70, who was mayor in 1986, appeared at Oxford Crown Court after he was arrested as part of an undercover police operation in the area. He denied one charge of conspiracy to handle stolen goods, and four of attempting to handle stolen goods, including bottles of whisky, brandy and gin.
His wife Sasha Swanborough, 51, of the same address, pleaded not guilty to one charge of incitement to steal a bottle of gin.
Aaron Hoey, 25, of Wessex Road, Didcot, and Cathie Ward, 26, of Mendip Heights, both denied conspiracy to handle stolen goods.
David Houghton, 44, of Glyn Drive, Didcot, admitted one charge of attempting to obtain stolen meat, and one of incitement to steal face cream. He was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £150 costs.
The other four were granted bail until their trial in the spring.
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