A FORMER soldier became involved in handling a near-£4,000 haul from a hairdressing wholesalers in a bid to make some money.

Burnley Crown Court heard that Simon Fishwick, 32, sold on the property to Kieran Robinson, 31, who put them on eBay and ended up with a £1,200 balance in a Paypal account.

Fishwick had got the loot from his brother Paul, who was then a delivery driver sub-contracted by Sally’s Salon Services and who is now wanted by police.

Simon Fishwick, a former Infantryman who has completed tours of Northern Ireland and Bosnia, had seen the chance to make some money when he was hard up.

His brother had asked him if he could get rid of the property, telling him he could have a cut of the profit and he had made £200, the hearing was told.

Fishwick, who had no previous convictions and who is also a voluntary worker, admitted handling stolen goods. The defendant, of Cambridge Drive, Padiham, was given a 12-month community order with 100 hours unpaid work.

Robinson, a father of three, of Brun Terrace, Burnley, admitted assisting in the retention of stolen goods.

The defend-ant was said to have only realised the goods were stolen when he was arrested on suspicion of burglary and he then phoned his partner and asked her to hide them.

He was fined £1,400 which he must pay within six months, or serve seven days in jail.

Sentencing, Recorder Mark Ainsworth said handling was a serious crime and if people didn’t do it, there would be no market for stolen goods.

The court was told that between September and December 2007, a lot of hairdressing products were stolen from delivery vehicles sub-contracted by Sally’s.

On each occasion, the driver was Paul Fishwick.

In December, police stopped a vehicle driven by Robinson and a lot of hairdressing products were in the back.

The total value of goods taken was £3,777.

For Robinson, Tim Storrie said he was criminally naive and had acted foolishly.

Paul Fishwick was still living in Burnley, was no ‘nomad’ but had still not been arrested.

The defendant and his partner wanted to start a new life in Australia.

For Simon Fishwick, Simon Gurney said he had had an exemplary military service record.

He foolishly took the opportunity to make some money. He had never been dishonest in the past and had now set up his own business.