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The Herald, March 21, 1979

LONDON. – A car that was split in two by a court’s judgment is to be restored to one peace by the two motorists who claimed ownership.

Solving the problem set by the magistrates means Mr Michael Brett will have to pay £100 to get back the Ford Escort saloon, which was stolen from him last August.

A month after the car was stolen it was sold to Mr Christopher Moore who fitted a new engine and two new wheels before discovering the theft.

Police impounded the car and asked the magistrate to decide the question of ownership. Mr Moore was awarded the engine and rear wheels while the rest was returned to Mr Brett.

The two men have sorted out the problem left by the magistrates.  Mr Brett has agreed to pay Mr Moore £100 for the half awarded to him.

He said afterwards: “It’s ridiculous. Now I have to pay £100 to get my car back.

I could take the case back to a county court but that would be too expensive. The only alternative is to complain about the magistrates”.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

Sometimes people have to make sacrifices to regain their possessions. Brett was willing to pay £100 to recover his stolen vehicle.

When buying something, especially second hand, it is important to exercise due diligence to prevent making a bad investment.

In some instances, there is need to do a bit of evaluation before taking major decisions. Brett decided against escalating the case by taking it to a county court because it was going to be more expensive for him than paying Moore.