Blackwood burglar stole watch of sentimental value
Intruder Rhys Colyer, aged 33, from Blackwood broke into a house in the Llanbradach area of Caerphilly, prosecutor Matthew Comer told Newport Crown Court.
The homeowner was alerted about the burglary on his mobile phone via the Ring doorbell and CCTV cameras he had installed at his property.
The complainant was on the last day of his holiday and had just proposed when the break-in occurred.
In a victim impact statement he revealed his devastation at losing the priceless watch and St Christopher necklace.
They had been passed down to him from his late father and grandfather.
'This has had a catastrophic effect on me,' he said. 'Some of the items were of sentimental value and can never be replaced.'
Footage of the break-in was released on social media and Colyer was recognised by his probation officer and a detective.
The defendant handed himself in at Blackwood police station.
Colyer, of no fixed abode, admitted burglary on March 10 and asked for a burglary and theft of a Ford Focus car to be taken into consideration.
He has 15 previous convictions for 39 offences, including nine for dwelling burglaries.
Sophie Jones for Colyer said: 'His best mitigation is his guilty plea and he's ashamed of his actions. Alcohol is his demon.'
Judge Celia Hughes told Colyer: 'It's clear that this has been very distressing for the victim.
'Items of great sentimental value were lost forever.
'You have a terrible record of convictions as a burglar.'
She added: 'You took these items without any thought for anyone but yourself.'
The defendant was jailed for 32 months and told he would serve half of his sentence in custody before being released on licence.
He will also have to pay a statutory victim surcharge.
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