Sean Lindner fronts court for receiving stolen Holden cars

Police uncovered a stash of stolen cars, false rego plates and car parts before arresting a crook behind a Holden Special Vehicles rebirthing ring across Victoria’s southeast.

A Newborough man’s plans to profit from a Holden Special Vehicles rebirthing ring came to a screeching halt after cops recovered a large stash of stolen cars and their parts in his possession.

The Victoria Police Vehicle Crime Squad raided Sean Lindner’s home and storage facilities on February 1 last year, discovering evidence that showed he stripped parts, disguised the identity of stolen vehicles and affixed false number plates.

Investigators established that a Holden Senator with false registration plates and $25,000 in the centre console found at Lindner’s house was stolen about two weeks earlier from a hotel in Melbourne.

Various car parts such as gear boxes and registration plates were found in a shed and in a storage shed Lindner rented at Yarragon.

The 30-year-old pleaded guilty in the County Court to nine charges of handling stolen goods and one of possession of methylamphetamine.

He was sentenced to three years and four months’ imprisonment on Thursday and ordered to serve at least two years and one month before being eligible for parole.

Holden Special Vehicles models being seized by police as part of car rebirthing investigation.

Judge Richard Maidment said when the owner of a stolen and uninsured Holden Commodore worth almost $70,000 got his car back, it had become a “shell”.

He said the owner was quoted $86,300 for parts to bring the car up to standard and sell it for $120,000.

A Holden vehicle being seized as part of police investigation into a Holden Special Vehicles rebirthing ring.

Lindner claimed he bought the Holden vehicles on Gumtree for $2000 to $3000 each.

Judge Maidment said insurance companies paid about $218,000 for the stolen cars.

“You took a risk for yourself and your family with what seems to me like a profitable and rewarding illicit business in car rebirthing,” the judge said.

Lindner had spent 276 days in pre-sentence detention.