A member of a crime gang that stole more than £1m worth of Mercedes vans failed to appear in court for a hearing to reclaim cash.
A network of thieves scoured the East of England to steal a host of Mercedes Sprinter vans which all had their electronic ignition switches (EIS) removed.
Norwich Crown Court heard the switches were taken to Miroslav Pesko, who had the knowledge and equipment to read the data and re-program it - enabling the gang to put the updated switches in the vans and steal the vehicles without being tracked.
Pesko, 41, formerly of Middlesex, was jailed for five years and four months last year after being found guilty of conspiracy to steal between January 2017 and September 2019.
A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing was listed at Norwich Crown Court on Thursday (June 10) but Pesko failed to appear in court for the hearing and the case was adjourned until September 30.
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