"Borrowed" Guitar

Ebenezer_Screwj

I would certainly trace this individual and confront him about the guitar, but after all this time and with no proof of whether this was a gift or a loan - getting the money back is a forlorn hope.

RHemmings

I know that this is an old thread, but I am disappointed that nobody seems to have actually tried to address the central matter here, whether or not borrowing an item and deliberately not returning it is theft.

The opinions of random posters on an internet forum are worthless, hence it's best to look for more credible opinions. From a survey of legal and police opinion, it appears that borrowing and item and not returning it is theft is there is an intention to never return the item.

See e.g. https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q125.htm or http://safe.met.police.uk/personal_theft/get_the_facts.html or http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60 http://www.collegelaw.co.uk/criminal-law/theft/index.html

Reading these convinces me that borrowing and item, and then selling it, includes intent to permanently deprive the owner of the item, and is therefore theft. Note that the police describe a situation where an item has just not been returned for a year as sufficient evidence of intent to permanently deprive. Selling the item is even stronger evidence.

Guest101

Just to add, ignore the advice regarding unpaid rent

Dom was very lucky that his father wasn't sued for illegal eviction, harassment and his son for theft

Lack of rent payment, like any debt should be resolved thru the courts.

Anyway old thread.