Robbie Bolger handed six-year jail sentence for theft of Holden engines

FORMER Holden-supported stunt driver, Robin Bolger, has been sentenced to six years’ jail for his part in the theft of hundreds of engines and transmissions.

More than 200 engines and gearboxes were stolen from Holden’s South Australian Elizabeth plant in 2010 and 2011 by a group of seven men, including at least one Holden employee.

The group loaded the parts into a courier van with the help of the Holden employee under the guise of the driver’s normal work, however, Judge Steven Millsteed said it was possible other GM employees could have aided the plot.

It was alleged the stolen engines and gearboxes were then transported to an Adelaide suburb for storage until Bolger could find a buyer.

During the trial the court was told Bolger sold most of the parts to CAPA Performance, along with some items being bought by VCM Suite.

The Judge estimated each engine was worth more than $5500, and each gearbox $3000, with the total worth of the stolen goods topping $780,000. Bolger was said to have profited more than $330,000 from the racket.

An order was made by the judge for the money to be recovered under proceeds of crime laws.

Bolger was well known in Australian motoring and racing scenes, and was one of the pioneers of drifting in Australia, famous for sliding his Holden Monaro at V8 Supercar rounds during the mid-2000s.

“You were well-respected in the racing industry until your offending was discovered," the judge said of Bolger.

"The offences you committed were serious, sustained, well-organised and greed-driven."

Bolger maintained he didn’t know the engines and gearboxes were stolen throughout the trail, however, he later admitted his part in the plan after being found guilty by a jury.

The 46-year-old’s contrition was slammed by the Judge, who stated "I expect it was nothing more than an attempt to gain leniency".

The stunt-car driver was sentenced to six years and three months in jail for 11 counts of property laundering, relating to the sale of the parts, and 54 counts of money laundering for depositing the proceeds in bank accounts – he will be eligible for parole in July 2021.

Former Holden worker Jason Paul Walton was jailed for six years in 2014 for his part, while two others were given suspended sentences for laundering money and storing the parts.