Music lover ‘stole £12k of pal’s vinyl records’
A MAN ended up in court after stealing a number of vinyl records from a pal who entrusted him to look after them while he lived in Canada.
Paul Spencer, 46, from Salford, appeared before magistrates to admit one count of theft.
He disputes the value of records while he stole. The case was adjourned for another hearing where evidence will be heard.
Some of the vinyls said to be stolen include records by The Beatles, The Smiths, Morrissey, Stevie Wonder, The Specials, Run DMC, Radiohead, The Ramones, Otis Redding, the Sex Pistols and James Brown.
Manchester Magistrates’ Court was told that Spencer’s friend Sean Crossey went to live in Canada, and he left his treasured music collection with the defendant, a friend of 20 years.
The pair used to work together at the HMV music shop in Manchester, the court heard.
Spencer agreed to store the records, said to number about 900 and be worth about £20,000, in his spare bedroom.
Prosecutor Laura Keegan said it became apparent to Mr Crossey that when he returned to the UK, some of the records had gone missing and had been sold.
Mr Crossey claims that about £12,000 worth of his records had been flogged.
Ms Keegan said that Mr Crossey believed his friend’s lifestyle ‘seemed to change.’
She said Mr Crossey went onto Facebook and saw that Spencer was ‘living a lifestyle in excess of what he normally lives.’ About 80 of the records were recovered from shops, and there remains about 300 missing, magistrates were told.
The prosecution alleged that Mr Crossey’s total loss was £12,000, and that he can provide evidence of his collection.
The court was told that Spencer accepts selling about 50 records, worth about £400 to £500.
He denies living a ‘luxurious lifestyle,’ and said he had financial problems. Spencer says he was also selling some of his own records at the time, also being a keen record collector.
Magistrates adjourned the case until April 26 for a ‘newton hearing,’ when they will rule on the issue.
Spencer, of Pyramid Court, Salford, was granted unconditional bail until then, when the case will be heard again before Manchester magistrates.