Yeovil Man Ordered to Pay Over £300,000 Following Farm Machinery Theft

Harry Hollowell, a 27-year-old from Jellicoe Road, Yeovil, has been ordered to pay more than £309,000 after being convicted for dealing in stolen farm machinery. Hollowell was previously sentenced to over three years in prison after police recovered more than 20 stolen pieces of valuable agricultural equipment linked to crimes across Somerset and Cardiff in 2020.

The Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing took place at Bristol Crown Court on October 8, 2024. During the investigation, officers uncovered stolen machinery at a farm in South Barrow following a search on October 16, 2020. Further stolen equipment was also identified throughout the investigation.

Hollowell, along with an accomplice, was involved in purchasing and selling stolen plant and construction equipment from farms in the Sedgemoor area of West Somerset and building sites in Cardiff. Out of the £309,116.38 Hollowell must pay, £53,958.32 will directly compensate seven victims who did not recover their stolen goods. The remaining funds will be reinvested into the criminal justice system to support ongoing efforts against crime.

Chief Inspector Joe Piscina, rural crime lead, emphasized the significant impact such thefts have on farming communities, noting that Hollowell’s actions caused substantial financial and operational harm to victims. He commended the investigative teams whose work brought Hollowell to justice.

Detective Chief Inspector Carlos Filippsen of the Financial Investigations Unit highlighted the importance of victim compensation and the continued crackdown on criminals profiting from illegal activities. He acknowledged the victims’ resilience, expressing hope that the compensation will aid in their recovery.

Avon and Somerset Police confirm that this confiscation order reinforces their commitment to disrupting criminal enterprises and mitigating the consequences of theft on hardworking communities.