Shropshire court battle over £20,000 found at crash site

A court battle has been launched over £20,000 cash found in the wreckage of a car belonging to a former Shropshire businessman.

Stephen Hill was left with life-threatening injuries and barely able to speak following a car smash this year.

He has been unable to tell police where the cash came from.

At Telford magistrates court yesterday, the family of Mr Hill - who ran an antiques business in Cleobury Mortimer - pleaded for the cash to be returned to help care for his two young children. They told magistrates the money came from horse racing wins and antique dealing.

Police yesterday told the court it was an unusually large sum of money to carry around and they wanted to investigate its origins.

The court heard the money was discovered at the scene of the crash, on the B4202 between Clows Top and Far Forest on August 25.

On August 27, police were granted court permission to retain the cash for inquiries.

Yesterday, the court granted a further three month seizure until February 27 to allow more investigations.

Miss Kriss Ewing, for West Mercia Police, said the extension was necessary for officers to establish where the money came from.

Mr Hill's father, Brian Hill, told the court his son, who ran Stephen Hill Antiques on High Street, would want the cash returned to help his children.

His son, who now lives in Worcestershire, could not remember having £20,000 in the car on the day of the collision or explain why he was carrying the money.

Mr Hill said his son was on his way to buy antiques for his home, was in the process of entering into a rental agreement which required more than £7,000 and had won money on horse racing.

Mr Jonathan Veasey-Pugh, for Mr Hill, said the money should be returned to the family and added there was no unlawful conduct.

"There is evidence of dealings in cash from the winnings from horses. There has been evidence as to the matter of the payment at the property and him attending the sale for furnishings to his new home."

By Jason Lavan