A YOUNG businessman has narrowly avoided prison after police discovered a hoard of stolen computer games in an upstairs storeroom.

Nikki Mistry, 22, of Main Road, Dovercourt, admitted handling stolen goods when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Police searched an upstairs storeroom at a property used by Mistry on January 8 and found boxes of computer games worth about £8,430 belonging to Ignition Entertainment.

Officers believe the 475 games were taken during a burglary in December last year.

Anil Pantani, prosecuting, said: “The defendant admitted buying the games for between £3,000 to £3,500 from a friend.

“He admitted buying them, believing them to be stolen, but denied being involved in the burglary. He had already sold some of the games on Ebay.”

The court heard Mistry, who has previous convictions for dishonesty, now runs a successful convenience store and off-licence in Harwich.

Tony Ventham said in mitigation: “He was in the process of setting up this new shop and had many costs as a result.

“That is why he was tempted by an offer of taking the goods, which he knew to be dodgy, and selling them off in order to make some easy money so he could set up his business, which he did and has since been successful.

“The items have now been recovered and returned to their original owner.” Recorder Robin Knowles sentenced Mistry to 12-months in jail, suspended for two years.

He also ordered Mistry to complete 200 hours unpaid work.

The judge said: “You have a talent for legitimate business.

“What I have to deal with is the consequences of you choosing to indulge in illegitimate criminal business for which your record and, the fact you are here today, shows you have no talent for at all. “If you are back here again, you will almost inevitably go inside for a long period.”