Woman sold film crew's stolen £43,000 camera equipment to unsuspecting buyer for just £2,000

A woman sold a film crew's stolen camera equipment worth £43,000 to an unsuspecting buyer for just £2,000.
The case was heard at Newcastle Crown Court.The case was heard at Newcastle Crown Court.
The case was heard at Newcastle Crown Court.

Claire MacClean made the sale just a day after a total of £54,000 of professional kit had been stolen from a crew during a burglary at their rental accommodation.

Newcastle Crown Court heard police were alerted after the innocent buyer saw the high standard of equipment he had bought for just £2,000.

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The court heard the £43,000 worth of property that had been sold on by MacClean was recovered although some of it was damaged and another £11,000 worth remains missing.

Prosecutor Alec Burns told the court the high grade camera and digital equipment had been stolen from a film crew during a raid at farm house accommodation in Chester le Street on December 1, 2019.

The professional kit was worth £54,000 and had been hired out to the film crew at a cost of £8,000.

MacClean, a 41-year-old mother, sold the £43,000 worth of equipment she had, claiming it had been left to her by her deceased father.

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But when the buyer realised he had "a lot more and more expensive equipment than he had expected" he phoned Focus 24, a film equipment rental firm whose name was on the property, and found out it was stolen.

MacClean, of Third Street, Blackhall Colliery, admitted handling stolen goods.

She also admitted handling and fraud offences after using stolen bank cards that had been taken during a burglary in Houghton le Spring.

Mr Burns said the cards were used three times to buy more than £80 worth of goods from shops and a further two attempts were made before they were declined.

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He added: "It was the same day, within five minutes of the discovery of the burglary."

David Callan, defending, said MacClean had been given all of the stolen property by someone else and had no involvement in either of the raids.

Mr Callan said; "She was basically selling something worth nearly £50,000 for £2,000."

Mr Callan said MacClean has a troubled background, suffered tragedy in her life and has a drugs problem.

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Mr Recorder Ben Nolan sentenced MacClean to 10 months’ imprisonment, which was suspended for 12 months, with rehabilitation requirements.

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