Heather Wright/The Independent

Robert Bradshaw is a wanted man, again.

The man at the center of a massive classic car theft case did not appear in court as ordered Sept. 18.

Robert Bradshaw and five others face charges after 160 classic cars were never delivered to a Watford dealer.

Larry Grogan reported them missing to Lambton OPP in 2023. According to documents from a civil court case, Bradshaw had been finding them for Grogan’s new business but not delivering the vehicles. 

In May, the OPP searched a garage north of Belleville and found 16 cars. The seizures have continued with the OPP returning them to Grogan.

The people who bought the cars bound for Grogans without knowing they were stolen lost their vehicles and the money they invested. Grogan is now in civil court trying to have their cars’ ownerships put into his name, so they can be sold again.

OPP charged Robert Bradshaw, 54 and Gary LeBlanc, 55, of the Belleville area immediately. Charges followed to Michael McCrory, 58, and Charlotte Johnston, 53 later that spring.

All face charges of theft, fraud, using forged documents and conspiracy in a Belleville court. Police allege they resold the cars after using forged ownership documents.

Johnston has plead guilty to one charge and has yet to be sentenced. She is still facing other charges in the case.

Bradshaw’s uncle, Jack, 77, is now also facing charges after police tried to seize two cars.

He was charged with obstruction of police, possession of a stolen vehicle and fraud.

Roger Thompson, a friend of the senior Bradshaw, was also charged that day with removing its Vehicle Identification Number and forging a bill of sale after police seized a 1935 Ford Coupe.

Crown Attorney Lee Burgess says Robert Bradshaw is jointly charged with possession of stolen property and obstruction of police with his uncle and Thompson in that incident.

Bradshaw was already evading the justice system. The senior Bradshaw’s posted bail for the 54-year old. He revoked his surety when he was arrested.

Burgess says once that was revoked, a warrant was issued for Robert Bradshaw’s arrest.

Police couldn’t locate him on those warrants. 

When he didn’t appear in court Sept. 18, another warrant was issued for his arrest.

The case against Bradshaw and the rest of those charged returns to court in mid-October.