Section 263Part 9 — Offences Relating to Property
Evidence and procedure on charge of theft or handling stolen goods
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263. (1) Any number of persons may be charged together, with reference to the same theft, with having at different times or at the same time handled all or any of the stolen goods, and the persons so charged may be tried together.
On the trial of two or more persons for jointly handling stolen goods the court or jury may find any of the accused guilty if satisfied that that accused handled all or any of the stolen goods, whether or not that accused did so jointly with the other accused or any of them.
Where a person is being proceeded against for handling stolen goods (but not for any offence other than handling stolen goods), then at any stage of the proceedings, if evidence has been given of that person having or arranging to Penal Code (2026 Revision) Section 264 c Revised as at 31st December, 2025 Page 117 have in that person’s possession the goods the subject of the charge, or of that person’s undertaking or assisting in, or arranging to undertake or assist in, their retention, removal disposal or realisation, the following evidence shall be admissible for the purpose of proving that that person knew or believed the goods to be stolen goods —
evidence that that person has had in that person’s possession, or has undertaken or assisted in the retention, removal, disposal or realisation of stolen goods from any theft taking place not earlier than twelve months before the offence charged; and
(provided that seven days’ notice in writing has been given to that person of the intention to prove the conviction) evidence that that person has within the five years preceding the date of the offence charged been convicted of theft or of handling stolen goods.
Cross References
- Section 241 of Penal Codeexternal
Reference to theft
- Section 260 of Penal Codeexternal
Reference to handling stolen goods