Mansfield man stole equipment ‘worth thousands’ from car boot sale

George Draycott had moments earlier checked out the jewellery stall at Torksey, near Gainsborough, where a precious metal analyser was being used to assess items.

Andrew Scott, prosecuting at Lincoln Crown Court, said “The defendant approached the stall, had a quick look round and left.

“A minute later he returned and took the analyser. Members of the public gave chase. The defendant was apprehended and the analyser was recovered.

“It was a valuable item. The stallholder had purchased it for £14,000. Its second-hand value today is about £10,000.”

Mr Scott suggested Draycott was put up to the theft by others and told the court: “This was a planned theft but it is unlikely that the defendant was the brains behind it.”

Draycott, aged 47, of Princes Street, Mansfield, admitted a charge of theft as a result of the incident on January 8 this year.

Mitigating, James Gray asked for Draycott to be given credit for pleading guilty to the offence at the earliest opportunity.

Draycott was given a 12-month community order with a four-month electronically-monitored night-time curfew.

Sentencing, Judge John Pini QC told him: “This was a very valuable item and you took it to get money.

“However I’m satisfied that there was at least one other person involved and they got you to do their dirty work. You would have benefited financially but the item was returned very quickly because you were chased and caught.”