Motorcycle ownership dispute - what can I do?

I work in a scrapyard and a two years ago I couldn't believe my luck when a man in his 50s dumped a Honda C90 frame and wheels. I asked him if he was dumping them and he said he'd had it in his shed for years but was dumping it as he never had time to sort it out. He said he'd bring me the logbook to the yard if I wanted it but he never did.

Fast forward two years and I have it fully restored and ready to get a logbook and an MOT certificate. However, while making appointments for my vehicle check, I was told that my frame number matches one that was in fact reported stolen.

It's now a police matter. I'm upset. Devastated in fact. I've put so many hours of work into getting it roadworthy and spent not only time but quite a bit of money on it too.

Where do I stand with this? The police are coming to check it over and I'm worried sick they will confiscate it.

Asked on 26 June 2012 by jdogg119

Answered by Honest John
If it's stolen property they can take the frame and two wheels back, but they can't take the rest. You can probably come to an arrangement with the owner from whom it was originally stolen or his insurer to pay a nominal amount for the frame and wheels. They cannot take back the whole restored bike. The bits you put on it are yours.
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