Lift engineer who stole jewellery worth £103k is spared jail
Jacques Woods, 25, stole two designer watches and a ring from the address at West Eaton Place on June 28 2021.
He was part of a team servicing the property, which stretches over 8,000 square feet and contains a high-speed modern lift.
Woods was caught by cleaners poking around bedrooms and other areas that were off-limits to staff. Police were called and he was discovered with photos of the stolen items on his phone.
He took a Rolex watch in silver and gold, a Patek Phillipe 715 watch in opaline and gold, and a Cartier love ring in white and rose gold. The value of the haul totalled £103,250 and none of the items have been recovered.
Sue Obeney, prosecuting, told Woods's sentencing hearing at Southwark Crown Court: 'On the Friday before it happened, June 28 being a Monday, the owner went away abroad.
'During that time it seems that Mr Woods availed himself of three high-end items. A Rolex watch described as a silver and gold, a Patek Philippe watch in opaline and gol, and a Cartier love ring in white and rose gold.
'I understand that none of the items were recovered, although the owner did get some reimbursement through insurance. She is somewhat out of pocket.
'He committed these offences due to a drug habit, which became a Class A habit. He effectively sold on these items.'
Thief 'is drug-free and rebuilding life'
Woods, who represented himself, said: 'That part of my life is quite hazy. Everything I was doing was to pay for a habit. I accept responsibility for what I have done. At the moment I am just trying to put my life back together.'
He said he was living in a caravan on a friend's cattle farm and that he was now free of drugs.
Sentencing him, Judge Mark Weekes said: 'There must have been some degree of planning. Even for someone of a high net worth, that is a lot of money.'
He gave Woods a prison sentence of 12 months, suspended for 18 months, telling him: 'This was serious offending. I am anxious that you should have that sword hanging over your head for that time as it will encourage you to stay out of trouble.'
Woods, of Banbury, Oxfordshire, admitted burglary and theft at an earlier hearing. The court heard that he received a community order of 200 hours of unpaid work for a burglary he committed later.
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