Motorcycle Insurance

A motorcycle dealer is on trial accused of having stolen motorbikes and money from his customers, motorcycle insurance customers may be interested to learn.

Robert Hill, 62, of Hertford, has denied 20 charges of theft at St Albans crown court, the Hertfordshire Mercury reports.

According to the newspaper, it is thought Mr Hill resorted to such crimes due to his financial difficulties.

Simon Wilshire, prosecuting, said the defendant had sold motorbikes people had left with him to repair, without their knowledge.

Of the charges, three related to the theft of motorbikes, while the rest were regarding the theft of thousands of pounds of customers' money.

According to the Herts and Essex Observer, the court heard how financial problems forced Mr Hill to remortgage his home and his business.

Problems with direct debit payments were also blamed for the loss of his Ducati and Suzuki franchise agreements, which had a negative impact upon his company's turnover.

In one incident, Mr Hill sold a Ducati 900SS motorbike for £4,500 on behalf of a customer, but the jury was told that his client only ever received £1,250 from the deal.

When asked if he'd planned to pay the customer the rest of the money, Mr Hill said it had been his intention to do so.

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