‘Chop shop’ pair guilty of selling on flash cars
Vehicle villains ran secret operation in countryside
A car ‘chop shop’ has been uncovered hidden in the middle of the Ayrshire countryside.
And here are the two criminals behind the secret operation where flash stolen motors were whisked away to be resold.
Ross Macquarrie, 30, and Christopher Sim, 25, who were involved in the racket, appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court last week.
The duo ran their illegal garage on the site of historic Barskimming Mill near Mauchline.
They both pled guilty to the reset of four motors, which were dishonestly appropriated by theft over the course of a week in April 2016.
The cars included a brand new high powered Ford Focus, two Audi S3s and an Audi RS4.
Mechanics at chop shops hide stolen cars and then carry out work on the vehicles - enabling them to be sold on without trace.
The duo were due to be sentenced last week but it has been adjourned for the preparation of a supplementary report on Macquarrie.
He lived nearby to the chop shop at Lurgardale House, Barskimming Road, Mauchline.
Defending Macquarrie, Steven Maxwell, said: “I’ve put to him ‘If you fly with the crows you get shot with the crows.’
The court heard how Sim, of Laurel Drive, Wishaw, accepted his guilt.
Tensions were high with about 15 supporters turning up to back the men as they stood in the dock.
Officials were forced to intervene and escort Macquarrie out a side entrance to keep the groups apart.
They are due back in court at a later date.
Charges against another Mauchline man, Declan Crewes, 22, of Smallburn Road, have been dropped.