Shropshire man stole thousands in jewellery from girlfriend and her family

Brandon Castle, 21, was invited to move into the property, in Wellington, in August 2017 after he started going out with one of the victims.

Jamie Scott, prosecuting barrister, said shortly afterwards he began to steal items including a heirloom Rolex watch that was worth more than £5,000 which was subsequently sold on. He also stole a Michael Kors watch belonging to his partner, wedding and engagement rings belonging to her parents and bracelets, some of which were melted for their precious metals.

He said matters came to a head when Castle was confronted by the owners over Christmas of that year over items going missing from the property, in St Mark's Drive. And he claimed he stole the goods to get money to buy a gift for his partner.

At a previous hearing he admitted three counts of theft and three counts of fraud relating to the period from August 1 to December 23, 2017.

Mr Scott said: "He began stealing about a month after he met his ex-girlfriend. The defendant was confronted about it by the family who reported it to the police a few days later.

"He stole a variety of items and some of the jewellery was taken to local shops and sold."

The fraud offences relate to Castle selling the Rolex to Lloyd Jewellers for £4,600 where the shop planned to auction it, the Micheal Kors watch to Cash Converters and other items to Allums Jewellers.

Robert Edwards, defending, told Shrewsbury Crown Court: "This offence was admitted at the interview stage. He pleaded guilty at the lower court. He comes from a difficult background and spent his childhood in care.

"He remains under supervision of a care team. The reason he committed these crimes is because he wasn't thinking straight.

"There is a deficit in his consequential thinking."

Judge Anthony Lowe said he found Castle's motivation "bizarre" and said his behaviour crossed the custody threshold. However, he said he was prepared to suspend the sentence.

For the thefts Castle, of Rhea Hall Farm, Highley, was jailed for 34 weeks and for fraud 17 weeks to run concurrently. The sentence was suspended for 18 months. He must carry out 180 hours unpaid work in the community within 12 months and attend 20 rehabilitation activity days with probation.

"You are very lucky not to be going to prison today," said judge Lowe.

"The 180 days you will spend working in the community could have been spent looking at four walls.

"I sincerely hope that I do not see you before me again."

Judge Lowe declined to make a restraining order preventing Castle from contacting the victims.