A MAN found with 53 power tools in his flat has admitted taking in stolen goods for a friend.

Robert Alexander Skyvington, 48, was arrested by police who arrived at his home minutes after an acquaintance dropped off the tools, which had been stolen from a van, on April 27.

Sykvington, now of Victoria Road, in Darlington, pleaded guilty to one charge of receiving stolen goods when he appeared at Darlington Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard that there is no evidence that Skyvington was involved with the original theft and that another man has been charged in connection with that offence.

Jon Garside, prosecuting, said police had called to his flat late at night while searching for a man and noticed ‘a large selection’ of power tools, worth more than £2,000, in the property.

Graham Hunsley, mitigating, said ‘trouble had come knocking’ at Skyvington’s door when two males had arrived asking him to take in the tools.

He added: “He never found out where the tools had come from or who they belonged to. There were no arrangements made about what he would get for taking them in and he did not benefit from it.

“The tools were left there and minutes later the police arrived. He has his suspicions that the police followed the persons who brought them to his door.”

Magistrates gave Skyvington a community order with four months supervision. He was not ordered to pay costs but must pay a £60 victim surcharge.

The stolen tools were returned to the owner.