Latest news with #JacquesWoods
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Lift engineer stole £103,000 of gems while servicing a £7million Belgravia property to fund his drug habit
A lift engineer stole £103,000 worth of gems while servicing a £7million property in Belgravia to fund his drug habit. Jacques Woods, 25, was part of a team servicing the 8,000 square feet home on West Eaton Place, which boasts a high-speed modern lift. He took two luxury watches and a designer ring before cleaners caught him wandering into the bedrooms, which were off limits to staff on June 28, 2021. Police were called, and officers later found photos of the stolen items on his phone. The haul included a silver-and-gold Rolex, an opaline-and-gold Patek Philippe 715, and a Cartier Love Ring in white and rose gold. None of the pieces, totalling £103,250 in value, have been recovered. Woods appeared at Southwark Crown Court for his sentencing hearing, having admitted to burglary and theft. Sue Obeney, for the prosecution, said: 'At the time Mr Woods had been working as a lift engineer. He was caught by cleaners wandering into the bedrooms of the property on West Eaton Place 'On the Friday before it happened, 28 June 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 gold 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.' Representing himself, Woods, who said he has been living in a caravan, described that part of his life as 'hazy' and said he is now clean. He 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 added: 'I was born and raised in Essex. I'm pretty far away from everyone I know.' Judge Mark Weekes criticised investigating officers for the 'disgraceful' delay in bringing the case to the court. He said: 'I would not blame the victim at all if the consequence of this is that she lost all faith in the criminal justice system. The fault lies with the police officers who were investigating.' Sentencing Woods, of Banbury, Oxfordshire, the judge said: 'There must have been some degree of planning. Even for someone of a high net worth, that is a lot of money.' Adding: '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 was given a prison sentence of 12 months, suspended for 18 months, as well as a community order with 200 hours of unpaid work for a burglary he committed later.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Telegraph
Lift engineer who stole jewellery worth £103k is spared jail
A lift engineer who stole watches and a ring worth £103,000 while servicing a £7m property in Belgravia has walked free from court. 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.
