A BLACKBURN businessman who hit financial problems ended up receiving stolen Land Rover vehicles.

Preston Crown Court was told that Lee Hall initially turned a blind eye to what others were doing.

But he then got involved when he realised what money could be made.

Police searched the premises of North West 4x4 at St Ives Business Park, Blackburn, in December 2009.

Hall, 35, of School Lane, Guide, Blackburn, had pleaded guilty to four charges of handling.

He was given 12 months’ prison, suspended for two years and ordered to do 180 hours’ unpaid work.

The case concerned four stolen Land Rover vehicles - one of which had only been taken hours before the police turned up. The value of the vehicles concerned was nearly £26,000.

Ken Hind, defending, said Hall had set up an honest business, but it got into an accounting mess.

He said: “He has genuine remorse.”

Judge Simon Newell told Hall: “I accept the vehicles were not stolen to order.

"The thief or thieves knew that once they had conducted their criminal activities, they could get rid of a vehicle very quickly and take the proceeds in cash and distance themselves from their thefts.”