Mansfield man broke into his former in-laws Derbyshire home and stole cash and £8,000 worth of jewellery

Jamie Holland was living with his then partner in the house next door at the time of the offence, and waited until the couple went on holiday before he broke into their home, Derby Crown Court heard on Thursday, February 4.

The 30-year-old, of Albine Road, Langwith Junction, Mansfield, was living on Pine Close, Shirebrook, at the time of the offence.

He took a key to the property kept at the house of his then partner, and sent a message to the couple’s grandson who was living at the house at the time to make sure he was out, the court heard.

He then took the jewellery, which had sentimental value, to Jolly’s Jewellery, in Mansfield, and sold the lot for £1,800 to buy drugs.

Prosecuting, Tony Stanford said that the safe also contained the pin number to his former girlfriend’s bank card, which he took from her car, and he stole £200 in cash and carried out £500 in transactions.

Describing the mother’s victim impact statement which was read to the court, he said: “She said that she was sad that she would never see her mother’s engagement ring again and she said that she had become obsessed with security, that he was laughing at her, and that she had been deliberately targeted.

“She said that she has lost a lot of money and that her home insurance didn’t pay her back.”

Holland pleaded guilty to burglary, attempted burglary, theft from a motor vehicle and fraud, shortly before he was due to go to trial in December, for the offences that all date back to April and May of 2018.

It is unclear why matters have taken so long to come to court, or why the offences were not linked to another burglary, which Holland was sentenced for in May of that year, the court heard.

Holland was arrested after CCTV footage retrieved by the police captured him entering the address and removing the safe, the court heard.

Mitigating, Benn Robinson said Holland has now formed another stable relationship, after the first woman kicked him out when she discovered what he had done, and had caring and financial responsibilities for her two children.

“At the time of these offences he was addicted to Class A drugs and had a gambling problem,” he told the court.

“When he came out of custody he knew it was time to change and he hasn’t been in any trouble since May 2018.”

Judge Robert Ugbuna gave Holland a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He also ordered him to complete 140 hours of unpaid work in the community and to attend 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days with the Probation Service, and to pay £1,800 in compensation.

Sentencing, he told Holland: “You attended your girlfriend’s parent’s home, having obtained a key, and you then took money from the safe and stole jewellery worth £8,000, which was of significant sentimental value. You then sold that jewellery to a shop, and none of it was recovered.”

Editor’s message: In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.