Appeal after sale of stolen van

Date published: 09/05/2007

Police in south Manchester have issued a photograph of a man they want to speak to in connection with the sale of a stolen van.

On 29 September 2006, a Mercedes van, registration YT55 FVS, was stolen from Ashdean Road in Withington.

The number plate was changed to KM54 EZH and the vehicle was then advertised in the Yorkshire edition of the Auto Trader vehicle sales magazine.

A man from Leeds saw the advert and agreed to go and view the van on 21 October 2006 at Gale Close in Littleborough.

The unwitting victim then agreed to pay £10,700 cash for the vehicle. During the sale, the victim's son took a photograph of the seller on his mobile phone.

The victim then drove the van home, but suspected something was wrong and phoned West Yorkshire police.

Officers then examined the van and revealed it had in fact been stolen. West Yorkshire police made a number of initial inquiries, before officers from Greater Manchester Police launched their own investigation.

Greater Manchester Police have now issued a photograph of the man who sold the vehicle to the victim.

He is described as white, with a medium build, 6ft tall with a rounded face and brown hair.

Anyone with information is asked to call Didsbury police on 0161 856 4596 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.