Facebook appeal finds Gornal musician's stolen guitar
A rocker was reunited with his rare Gibson Les Paul guitar which thieves left lying against a lamppost.
Gavin Priest's prize instrument was stolen from his van outside his father's home in Sedgley.
Mr Priest had played with the £2,500 guitar in Yorkshire the night before - but feared the worst after his van was broken into.
However he was reunited with his instrument after his Facebook appeal was shared thousands of times.
A kind-hearted member-of-the-public, Carl Fellows, spotted it lying against a lamppost just three streets from his father's house and got in touch.
Gavin, aged 48 from Lower Gornal, said: "This just shows the power of Facebook.
"I was devastated when I found out they had broken into my van and took my guitar. I had only bought it a day earlier after travelling up to Yorkshire.
"But my post was shared thousands of times, people and music shops around the country were sharing my post, and I think the culprits realised it was too hot to handle and they just left it for me.
"I don't bear a grudge against them really because they left unharmed and still in its case."
The guitar is a vintage customised 1980 model with a cream paint-job to resemble the one used by Steve Jones in The Sex Pistols.
Gavin plays in a tribute Sex Pistols band and is a massive fan of the band.
Carl found the instrument in the Brownhall's estate after Gavin had visited his father for a cup-of-tea.
Gavin believes the thieves struck when he was taking his father's dog for a walk.
As a reward he gave Carl £200 and has offered to teach the Good Samaritan's children how to play guitar as an extra thank you.
Gavin said: "I'd like to say a massive thank you to Carl for re-uniting me with my guitar, I'm ecstatic.
"I'd also like to thank everyone who shared my Facebook post. I won't let it out of my sight again."
Gavin is a member of indie band The Proctors and a DJ at Wolverhampton's Blast Off and Dog & Doublet.
