The offences happened three years ago, but the CPS decided to discontinue proceedings against John Townson. But the case was revived last year.

He went along to a police station as requested last December, but failed to attend court in May and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
He was on licence from a three-year jail term for wounding at the time and has since been recalled to prison.

Judge David Aubrey said: "This is yet another example of the apparent ease by which dishonest fraudulent people like you can seek to sell stolen goods to vulnerable unsuspecting people."

Judge Aubrey said he was "astonished" at the history of the case and said it appeared most of the papers involved in the case had been available to the CPS in 2005.

Townson, of Gisburn Road, admitted three handling offences and had two similar offences taken into consideration.

Mr Geoffrey Lowe (prosecuting) told Liverpool Crown Court the offences took place in July, 2005 and involved two Mini Coopers, an Audi A3, a Toyota Landcruiser and a Nissan Navarro.

They had all been stolen in the Wigan area by burglars using a hook and cane technique to get the car keys from the owners' homes.

Within days, Townson had advertised them for sale on Ebay and they were sold using false documentation and sometimes false number plates.

Mr Gerard Doran (defending) said Townson was a heating engineer in 2005. The offences involved others and Townson was not involved for very long.

He had failed to attend court as he was concerned about going to prison again and the effect on his relationship and business, said Mr Doran.