Stolen jewellery handler needed cash 'to pay for electricity' court told

A man who disposed of stolen jewellery for a burglar needed the cash to pay for electricity at home, a court heard.

Peter John Flamson pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to handling stolen goods following a break-in by someone else at an address in Coalville.

Within a few hours of the break-in, 42-year-old Flamson was at Fast Cash, in High Street, Coalville, where he obtained £130 for seven pieces worth more than £1,000.

Andrew Peet, prosecuting, said the householder went looking for stolen items and located seven of them at the shop.

The other 23 items which were stolen from her have not been recovered.

The goods taken were of sentimental value, Leicester Crown Court was told.

Mr Peet said: "Burglars wouldn't exist if people like this defendant weren't willing to handle the goods.

"The person who stole these items had a ready source to dispose of them, namely Flamson."

The householder was described as being extremely distressed after the break-in and suffered headaches, with her mind acting "like a kaleidoscope" as she constantly thought about what happened, said Mr Peet.

'In trouble many times before'

Sentencing, Judge Ebraham Mooncey told Flamson, of Seagrave Close, Coalville: "The person who was burgled went to the shop, where you're apparently a regular customer, to make inquiries.

"Lo and behold, seven items stolen from her home were recovered.

"Inquiries showed it was you who took those items there."

The judge said the person who burgled the house was being prosecuted separately to Flamson.

He added: "From the word go, you told the police you'd been asked to sell some of the items.

"You've been in trouble many times before; in and out of the court system."

Electricity

Elizabeth Evans, mitigating for Flamson, told the court: "It's clear that it's something he regrets.

"He was offered £20 for his involvement and he needed money for the electricity at home and that's why he foolishly agreed to go to the pawn shop.

"He has an unenviable record and has struggled with drugs for 15 years, but is now making progress and getting assistance from Turning Point [a rehabilitation organisation] and his sister."

Flamson was jailed for 10 months.