IMAGINE spending £20,000 to replace your stolen car, only to realise you have just bought your own car back.
That was exactly what happened to Ewan Valentine from Solihull in a bizarre twist of fate that turned what he called a mid-life crisis dream car into an unforgettable story.
The 36-year-old man was shocked to discover he had unknowingly bought back his own stolen car.
On 28 February, Valentine woke to find his black Honda Civic Type-R missing from his driveway.
After reporting the theft to police and his insurance company, he began searching for a replacement and found what appeared to be an identical 2016 model at a garage about 70 miles away.
Determined to replace what he called his “mid-life crisis car,” Valentine paid £20,000 for the vehicle.
However, once he drove it home, he began noticing strange coincidences. There were familiar items like a lone tent peg, Christmas tree pines, and old Mars bar wrappers inside the car.
The real giveaway came when he checked the car’s sat-nav and found his previous addresses still saved.
“I was gutted when it was stolen. It was a mid-life crisis car, not many around, so I was keen to get the same one,” Valentine told the BBC.
After realising he had bought back his original stolen car, Valentine was left stunned. He had purchased the vehicle from a reputable dealership, unaware of its stolen past. —Apr 28, 2025
Main image: ARY News
