A DRUNK burglar with a hammer raided a jewellers and made off with a haul estimated to be worth £10,000.

Richard Jones was spared an immediate jail sentence, a decision branded a ‘joke’ by the Stourport jeweller he raided.

The 37-year-old burglar used a hammer to smash his way into Mantons of Stourport before running off with the goods which were said to be worth at least £4,000 and possibly as much as £10,000.

Jones raided the High Street shop at 1.26am on January 8, returning at 4.29am the same morning for what the judge described as ‘second helping.’

The court heard he dropped some of the jewellery as he left the scene and there was some debate about how much jewellery he stole.

However, it was agreed between prosecution and defence that he stole at least £4,000 worth because that was the value of the items recovered from his home.

John Brotherton, prosecuting, said: “The CCTV shows a single male using a hammer to smash a front window. He’s then seen to wrestle with the shutter behind the broken window which held fast. He’s able to reach through a gap and steal items from within.”

When he returned later the same morning he could be seen again struggling with the shutter. During the break-in he also caused £1,000 worth of damage to the window. The defendant left blood at the scene and he was arrested the following day.

Although Mr Brotherton said he did not have a precise value for the jewellery, £10,000 of jewellery was mentioned.

In interview Jones, of High Street, Stourport, said he has been having ‘a bad time’ including a relationship breakdown. He also told officers he had tripped and dropped some of the jewellery after the burglary.

“He said he aimed to sell it and was sorry for what he had done” Mr Brotherton told the court.

Jones had no previous convictions for burglary.

Michael Aspinall, defending, urged caution as the amount of jewellery stolen was ‘uncertain’.

Mr Aspinall said: “This was a vainglorious attempt by someone who was in drink. I accept that’s not a mitigating factor and he was easily identified from CCTV. It doesn’t show someone who is particularly artful.”

Mr Aspinall said his client had spent most of his life working in a skilled job but was made redundant three years ago and his 22 year relationship with his partner broke down.

Jones, a father-of-three, ended up homeless and living in a hostel in Birmingham but now has a new partner.

Mr Aspinall said he had ended up in rent arrears of £3,000.

“He was on the verge of being evicted and was drinking heavily. Reaching rock bottom he did what can only be described as a ridiculous burglary to try and get some money to save his home” said Mr Aspinall.

He argued that his client had shown ‘genuine remorse.’

Recorder Robert Spencer-Bernard sentenced Jones to 16 months in jail but suspended the sentence for 18 months.

He also ordered him to complete 40 rehabilitation activity days, a six month alcohol treatment requirement and to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work. No order was made for compensation or costs.

Russell Hinton, owner of Mantons, has worked there for 30 years and the business marks is 60th birthday this year.

Mr Hinton said: “The sentence is a joke. I feel sorry for the police. They do all this work. It goes to court and the magistrates and judges just let them go.”

Mr Hinton said if the justice system did not clamp down on this type of offending it would ‘escalate’.