Friends Nick Designer Dresses During Boozy Birthday Trip

L - Hunter R - Moore

Two Liverpool shoplifters, who targeted a pair of designer dresses worth £4,200 at the landmark Harvey Nichols department store during a birthday trip to the capital, claimed they were so drunk on wine they could not remember the high-value theft.

Rebecca Hunter, 31, of Huyton Church Road and Natalie Moore, 36, of Roby Road removed security tags from the garments in the changing rooms of the Knightsbridge store, but were already being watched by suspicious security staff who stopped them outside.

They both pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court to stealing the dresses, designed by French fashion house Lanvin, on July 5 and each received a twelve-month community order, with 200 hours community service.

Prosecutor Mr. Tom Gill told the court it was 7.30pm when a store detective began watching the pair, who say they had been drinking for the previous six-and-a-half hours.

"The store detective watched Moore select three dresses and pass them to Hunter and then they both went to the dressing-rooms.

"Only one of the dresses was left on the rail and two broken security tags had been hidden behind a dressing-room mirror.

"They were stopped outside in the street and Hunter produced the two dresses from her bag and both had been damaged by the removal of the security tags."

They were arrested and quizzed after spending a night in the cells.

"Hunter said she could not remember anything because she was drunk. She said she was a binge drinker and was very sorry for what had happened," explained Mr. Gill.

"Moore said she was drunk and could not remember what had happened. She said she had drunk four bottles of wine and said she was sorry.

"She told officers she was on anti-depressants and had recently broken up with her child's father and was taking comfort in drinking."

Their lawyer Miss Cleo Rehamena told the court: "Both of them are ashamed of their behaviour. It was Miss Moore's birthday and they came to London.

"That day they were drinking very heavily from one pm, sharing four bottles of red wine between them, and have found the whole ordeal very disturbing.

"They both have previous convictions for theft and they were both playing the same role in this offence.

"After fourteen years with her partner Miss Moore found out he was having an affair and is now residing with her mother and thirteen year-old daughter.

"She has left the matrimonial home and has nothing."

District Judge James Henderson told the defendants: "There are a number of aggravating features and you could not have complained if you had been sent to prison.

"If you breach these orders the likely outcome will be prison because of the aggravating features and the high value."

Hunter and Moore were also ordered to each pay £500 compensation to Harvey Nichols.

Financial Advisor Charged With Defrauding Client He Is Accused Of Murdering

A financial advisor, accused of bludgeoning a wealthy American socialite client to death at his Mayfair apartment, appeared in court yesterday charged with stealing £343,000 from the victim's bank account.

David Jeffs, 36, (pic.bottom) of Larch Close, Arnold, Nottingham was taken from his remand cell at top-security HMP Belmarsh to City of London Magistrates' Court.

He is charged with fraud by abuse of position between March 1, 2010 and December 2, last year, namely arranging and receiving the money from 63 year-old Roberto Troyan's accounts into his own personal bank account.

The body of Mr. Troyan (pic.top) was found by his cleaner at the Mount Street address on March 8.

He suffered fatal head injuries.

Mr. Troyan was the former partner of the late architect and interior designer Anthony Feldman, who had worked for Jonathan Aitken and Princess Michael of Kent.

Jeffs was a private client advisor with London and Surrey-based HFM Columbus, a partnership of financial and wealth management firms.

His Old Bailey murder trial is due to begin on October 7.

Kid's Nursery Boss Shoved Employee While Shouting: "Stupid White Bitch"

The black manager of a children's nursery has been fined after calling one of her staff a "stupid white bitch," and pushing the young woman during a row over breaks.

Rosalind Sawyer, 66, of Wilbury Avenue, Sutton told Tara Swift to "get the fuck out of my nursery," and has now ended up with a conviction for racially aggravated assault.

She denied, but was convicted of the offence at Camberwell Magistrates' Court and was fined a total of £250, with £500 costs.

The court heard Sawyer confronted Miss Swift outside the Childrens World Nursery in Wiltshire Road, Brixton (pictured) on January 31 after spotting the baby care employee leaving for a break.

"I heard my name being called and saw that it was my manager," Miss Swift told the court.

"She said: 'Where do you think you're going?' and said I had better go back inside or not bother coming back.

"She was loud and aggressive and had just turned up at two in the afternoon and I had been there all morning.

"She said she was sick off me and my fucking breaks every day and when I said I was entitled to a break she told me to: 'Get the fuck out of my nursery'."

Inside Miss Swift collected her belongings from a staff locker and was leaving the room via a baby gate when Sawyer approached.

"Mrs Sawyer pushed me in my throat and I went staggering back. 

"I had no defence. I was holding the gate and was not expecting it.

"As she pushed me I went stumbling back and afterwards I started crying.

"Mrs Sawyer said: 'You can't do your job. You're stupid, you're a fucking white bitch.'

"I was upset, I was shocked."

Actress Daughter Of Ex-Sky Sports Presenter Richard Keys Cleared Of Punching Paramedic In Face

The troubled actress daughter of ex-Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys enjoyed a rare court victory yesterday when the paramedic who claims she punched her in the face failed to appear for the trial.

Former Hollyoaks star Jemma Keys, 28, of Westbourne Terrace Road, Bayswater, who currently serving a one-year community order, with 175 hours community service work for a drunken attack on her mother, has always denied the charge.

She walked free from Hammersmith Magistrates' Court, where she also recently appeared for breaching another supervision order imposed for drink-driving while taking and driving away an ex-boyfriend's car.

Prosecutor Mr. David Mold told the court: "The victim is a paramedic at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and was taking Miss Key's into the building on a stretcher and felt she needed to apply the restraints.

"With her clenched right fist she punched the complainant on the nose, causing swelling."

Keys pleaded not guilty to assaulting Claire Bradshaw on August 23, last year and her mother Julia Keys, 53, had taken a police officer's shoulder number at the scene, resulting in the officer agreeing to give evidence for the defence.

"The police officer will say Miss Keys demanded to be taken to a private hospital or be let go and as she moved her arms to avoid being restrained there was an accidental clash with the paramedic," explained Mr. John Oliver, defending.

District Judge Teresa Szagun refused to adjourn the trial for the prosecution witnesses to attend.

"This was an allegation of assault against a paramedic and did involve an element of battery, but three trial dates have already been fixed and this is an offence that is twelve months old.

"There is no explanation for their non-attendance today and I consider the matter should proceed."

She told Keys: "The Crown are not in any position to offer any evidence so you are free to go."

The case marks the end of a string of alcohol-related incidents involving Keys, who has received treatment for her addiction, including her father funding a stay at a Far East retreat.

Last month she admitted digging her fingernails into her mother's wrists as Mrs Keys tried to protect herself from her drunken daughter's flurry of kicks at the family's £4m Chelsea home.

She is currently serving a three-year driving disqualification, has struggled to co-operate with the probation service, often skipping appointments, and received a caution for a separate assault on her mother. 

During last month's sentencing hearing Mr. Oliver told the court: "She has shown a reluctance to take part in alcohol counselling because she has been in residential rehabilitation, funded by her parents, and feels until she addresses her emotional problems she will relapse.

"She had difficulties growing up and there were difficulties in her parents' relationship that effected her."

In the last year Keys has lived in approximately ten different addresses including Sunningdale, Wentworth, Plymouth, Chelsea and Ilford, but her new three-year lease is for a settled home funded by her father.

When she pleaded guilty to attacking her mother her solicitor Mr. Fadi Daoud told the court: "She is dysfunctional and has no income and no job and is somebody who has had alcohol problems for six or seven years.

"Her mother went to the police because she found her daughter drunk again, face-down, and there has been a lot of history in the past when her mother has not pursued it.

"Miss Keys continued to receive the support of her family and is somebody who can remain sober for six or seven weeks and then relapse.

"It is an on-going problem the family are dealing with. There is a massive amount of history.

"Miss Keys takes a lot of energy and time out of her family and others and she has to realise it is down to her and hopefully as a result of this the light has come on.

"She is a clever girl from a good family and her family have assisted her by buying her a home and arranging for a car to always pick her up and collect her so she can avoid dangers."

The lawyer asked the court to give Keys credit for her behaviour while on bail. "She could have run away and been found again face-down in the gutter.

"The positive is that she has a family that can and will assist her."

The court also heard Keys was previously arrested by Sussex Police for being drunk and disorderly on January 3 and received a caution.

Environment Campaigner Busted Fellow-Protestor's Jaw On Eve Of Demo

An environmental campaigner, who broke a fellow-protestor's jaw with a single punch during an alcohol-fueled evening before the Hyde Park demo, has been jailed for nine months.

Jay Hindley, 34, of The Cottage, New House Farm, Kniveton, Derbyshire was convinced the victim made a pass at his girlfriend after the group had enjoyed a chinese meal and drinks.

The single-father-of-two, (pictured) who runs a small crafts business, had travelled to London with his girlfriend to attend an anti-geo engineering/chemtrials protest, which aimed to bring attention to environmental pollution.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Daniel Betts at 8B St. Charles Square, North Kensington in the early hours of April 6.

Prosecutor Mr. Olu Phillips told the court one of the protest organisers agreed to house the defendant, his girlfriend and Mr. Betts at her home overnight.

There had only been Facebook contact between them before meeting up, but there was no hostility during the meal and they bought wine and beer on the way back to the address.

After more drinking the host and Hindley and his girlfriend retied to their respective bedrooms, with Mr. Betts sleeping on the sofa.

However, during the night when the defendant's girlfriend got up to go to the bathroom there was an incident, which led Hindley to believe there was some sexual contact between the pair.

He woke Mr. Betts and punched him as he lay on the couch, also knocking out two of the victim's teeth.

"It was an unprovoked attack, a single punch," said Mr. Olu.

Hindley's lawyer Mr. Alistair Walker told the court: "He made a full confession in interview and prior to his arrest texted the victim an apology and posted his regret on Facebook.

"His drinking led him to a gross error of judgement."

Judge Phillip Matthews told Hindley: "On that day you punched him once in the face with sufficient force to fracture his jaw, which was broken in two places, and you broke two of his teeth.

"There had been some form of argument between you and Mr. Betts and the large intake of alcohol removed any inhibition you had to resolve your differences other than resorting to violence.

"You have clearly shown remorse for your behaviour and it was a single blow and you have family that are dependant on you." 

City Finance Whizz Caught With Child Porn

A St Andrew's University graduate's lucrative financial career in the City was destroyed when police raided his flat and seized sick child porn images he had downloaded on his laptop.

Aberdeen-born Matthew Smith, 24, was suspended from his job advising the wealthy as to how best invest their riches and he returned to the family home.

Smith, of Charleston Crescent, Aberdeen has been an official ambassador for the last three years for the Saltire Foundation,  which awards internships all over the world to Scotland's brightest youngsters, and he is currently employed by independent financial advisors in his home town.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to thirteen charges of possessing indecent photographs of girls, aged between seven and twelve years-old, at his former flat in Shepherd's Bush Road, west London on May 25, last year.

Prosecutor Mr. Gavin Kirkpatrick told the court: "Police became aware that Mr. Smith may have accessed child pornography and executed a search warrant at his home.

"After a laptop that was seized was analysed he was arrested and interviewed and made no comment.

A total of fifty-seven images were found ranging from thirty-eight at Level One, three at Level 2, six at Level 3, nine at Level 4 and one at Level Five, the most extreme category of child pornography.

Smith's lawyer Mr. Nigel Richardson said: "He was born and bred in Aberdeen and after graduating from St. Andrew's University moved to London in September, twenty-eleven to work for financial advisors in the City.

"He was advising high net worth individuals. It was a well-paid and prized job."

Smith had landed a position with award-winning chartered independent financial advisors Saunderson House.

"After police seized his computer his company suspended him, but later agreed to take him back, but by then Mr. Smith had resigned from his post and returned to Aberdeen.

"His family were fairly shocked, but supportive."

Police originally charged Smith with possessing 1209 indecent images, but after instructing an expert, whose report concerning the approximate ages of the subjects was served on the Crown Prosecution Service, that amount was drastically reduced.

The court heard the defendant sought counselling with an organisation called 'Stop It Now' and had seen a sexual psycotherapist.

That expert's letter to the court read: "He has no sexual interest in children. His interest it towards adult women."

Judge Philip Matthews sentenced Smith to a three-year community order, which includes attending a community sex offenders group programme.

He was also ordered to perform 200 hours community service work and pay £500 costs.

Smith was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for five years and an indefinite sexual offenders prevention order was made, which requires him to make his internet history available to police inspection.

"The reason for the prohibition on possessing such images is understood by you and members of the public. Children as young as seven were used in such a fashion that is contrary to all civilised behaviour," the judge told him.

"The images were for your own personal sexual gratification. They were not shared or shown to anyone else.

"You are now in a good job and there are prospects that you will continue to have a successful career."

Secret Student Sentenced For £47K Benefits Swindle

A young mother-of-five, who kept her lucrative student loans and grants secret, has dodged prison with a suspended sentence for a £47,000 benefit swindle.

Aziza Abouoff, 28, (pictured) of Lewis Road, Sidcup, south-east London had admitted the three-year fraud and was committed for sentencing to Inner London Crown Court.

She illegally obtained £42,988 in housing benefit and £4,678 in council tax benefit.

Abouoff, who is estranged from her husband, pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to notify a change of circumstances to the London Borough of Bexley on dates between September 23, 2007 and October 3, 2010.

She was sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months, ordered to perform 80 community service work and must pay an £80 victim surcharge.

The offences related to University of Greenwich loans amounting to £6,615 and £8,975 and grants amounting to £1,000 and £11,486.

Abouoff also received Greenwich School of Management loans of £8,975 and £7,088 and grants of £16,827 and £7,025.

Benefits Bullionaire Hid Secret Gold Reserves During Decade-Long Fraud

Goldfinger of benefit fraud Ronald Cooper, who kept his inheritance, ten bank accounts and £54,000 bullion investment a secret during a decade-long swindle, has avoided prison with a suspended sentence.

The lifelong unemployed 61year-old, who is currently receiving housing benefit and disability living allowance, ripped-off two different London borough's while making repeated claims during the £50,000 fraud.

Cooper, of King Charles House, Wandon Road, Fulham pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to five counts of dishonestly making false representations in relation to housing benefit and council tax benefit applications and one count in relation to income support between September 10, 2002 and June 1, 2008.

He also pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances to the Department of Work and Pensions, namely a £25,666 inheritance on or about June 30, 2010.

Prosecutor Mr. Howard Watkinson told the court Cooper was overpaid from 2002 until 2012 - the period his savings exceeded the statutory limit of £16,000 after which claimant's are no longer entitled to benefits.

"This is not a case where the claim was fraudulent from the outset, but three years after it began he had accumulated such savings from benefits he was no longer entitled."

Cooper, who has a council flat, swindled housing benefit payments from both the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. 

"He took a course of deceit involving two local authorities and the Department of Work and Pensions," explained Mr. Watkinson. "This involved dishonest declarations at to the savings he held and the bank accounts. 

"By June, twenty-ten the defendant held some ten bank accounts, some were opened short-term for the savings rate at the time, and at the end of that year he received an inheritance of just over twenty-five thousand pounds.

"By August, twenty-eleven he had just under fifty-four thousand pounds in his various accounts  and converted that sum to an investment in gold bullion."

All of Cooper's financial assets, which now add up to £63,000, have been frozen by a restraining order and the various departments will be reimbursed under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

"He made full and frank admissions to what he had done and agreed in a declaration that he knew what he was doing was wrong and illegal and cheated people who were more deserving than him out of benefits," added Mr. Watkinson.

Cooper's lawyer Mr. Edward Seller told the court: "He is a reclusive and obsessive person, who has never really worked in his life.

"He is worried by some cataclysmic event that has something to do with homelessness and lack of security.

"He lives alone and is worried about what will happen to him."

Judge John Denniss told Cooper: "The gold bullion bought in twenty-eleven was probably a good investment and to avoid detection as many as ten bank accounts were opened.

"The offence is a serious one over many years and displays traits of serious dishonesty.

"Once your savings had mounted up you must have realised you were committing an offence and fifty thousand pounds was taken from the taxpayer.

"This is not a victimless crime, it is a crime against society.

"You are socially isolated and have an obsessive concern or anxiety about some impending cataclysmic event that has compelled you to prepare for that anxiety."

Cooper was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 100 hours community service.

Mum Drove With Toddler Son While Nearly Three Times Drinks Limit After Birthday Bash

Drinker's: Fearon and The Rose pub

A mother, who drove home from a pub birthday party with her four year-old son in the car while nearly three times the drink-drive limit, staggered to the front door and "rambled" to police when officers arrived to arrest her.

PA Henrietta Fearon, 34, downed Pimm's and wine during the afternoon bash at the trendy Fulham bar, but a shocked eye-witness dialled 999 after spotting the obviously intoxicated defendant getting into her black Mini outside.

First-time offender Fearon, who works for a chartered surveyor, drove the 1.5 miles home to her half a million pound flat in Mablethorpe Road without incident, but immediately confessed when confronted.

She pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court on Tuesday to driving with excess alcohol in her breath on July 20 and was fined £625 and disqualified for two years and four months.

Her reading was 95 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Prosecutor Mr. Tom Gill told the court: "Police received a call from a concerned member of the public concerning a woman who had left the Rose public house in Harwood Terrace and drove off with a child in the car.

"Police visited the defendant's address and she answered the door while unsteady on her feet and rambled on about being at a friend's birthday party that afternoon, where she had Pimm's and wine.

"She said: 'I can't believe this. I've made a big mistake'."

Fearon's solicitor Miss Naomi Alcendor said: "She took her son to a play centre and went to the party and did not consume any alcohol.

"She collected her son, but then stopped off again at the party on the way home.

"It is a family-orientated venue with a garden and she did consume alcohol and decided to drive the short distance to her home.

"She is devastated to find herself in this position because she had her son with her that day."

Magistrate Mrs Nicola Leach told Fearon: "This is a very, very high reading and we are concerned you drove under such circumstances with your son in the car."

Fearon was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £65 victim surcharge, which she agreed to pay immediately.

Former Christie's Art Expert Slapped Wife During Family Road Trip

An ex-Christie's art expert slapped his wife across the face while driving in busy west London as their two children watched from the rear seat - just two days after police cautioned him for another assault on his spouse.

Dealer Damian Brenninkmeyer, 42, (pictured) was the head of the Old Masters department in Christie's Amsterdam, having been their specialist in New York and also worked at New Bond Street auction house Bonhams and Butterfields.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court yesterday to assaulting his wife of ten years Fiona Brenninkmeyer on July 7 and is currently banned from his family's Fulham postcode and is residing with his father at The Water Gardens, Warren Road, Kingston-upon-Thames.

"Slugging his wife across the face while while driving on a busy road with two children in the back is one of the most dangerous things you can do," District Judge Susan Williams told Brenninkmeyer. "Things must never come to fisticuffs."

He was bailed until August 29 for a pre sentence report.

Brenninkmeyer's lawyer Mr. Mark Haslam told the court: "This is a marriage both parties think can be saved and there is an email from his wife to that effect."

Prosecutor Mr. Paul Mitchell said the family were planning to drive to Mrs Brenninkmeyer's mother's home in Buckinghamshire on that Sunday afternoon.

"Mrs Brenninkmeyer could sense a bad mood and was afraid the defendant would get angry with her, but he assured her everything was going to be okay.

"They were driving along Fulham Palace Road when the defendant became aggressive and started shouting: 'I want to punish you for what you did to me'."

The court heard Brenninkmeyer was still angry with his wife for calling the police two days earlier and told her: "I'm going to break your phone and tell the accountant not to allow you to have another.

"She said: 'Please calm down for the kids', but he started to bash his fists on the steering wheel while they were still moving," explained Mr. Mitchell.

"He then back-hand hit her across the right side of her face.

"He was driving erratically so she decided to call the police and grabbed her phone, but Mr. Brenninkmeyer grabbed her hand, clawing at her hand.

"He gave up, but grabbed her sunglasses from her lap and threw them out of the window.

"The right side of her face was throbbing and she could see bruising as the journey continued and at Beaconsfield Services she took the two girls into a service area and cried.

"Mr. Brenninkmeyer said: 'Why don't you get back in the car? You're causing a scene'."

There was another row back at the family home that night when Brenninkmeyer discovered his wife had taken money from their joint account to pay a cleaner and he pushed her down onto a sofa.

The defendant was assured the bail conditions would not prohibit him seeing his daughters.

  

"The children will have to see their father and I am sure the fact that he is not at home is distressing to them," said Mrs Williams. "This is a marriage we want to see back on the right tracks and this has to be a warning to him that something needs to be done."

The court heard Brenninkmeyer has been undergoing treatment for anxiety.

Disabled Movie-Goer Headbutted Cinema Usher During Legroom Row

A disabled cinema-goer, unhappy about the amount of legroom in the auditorium, headbutted the member of staff who had shown him to the designated area.

Disabled Yves Marie, 47, (pictured) shouted: “There's no fucking legroom,” at the Odean theatre and attacked the staff member, who he felt had brushed off his complaint.

Marie, of Orchard Court, Bell Green, Sydenham pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates' Court to assaulting Paul Quinlan at the Beckenham cinema on May 18.

The court heard the defendant immediately expressed his unhappiness at where he was seated and got up and headbutted Mr. Quinlan on the nose, causing it to bleed.

The victim also suffered bruising and swelling to his lip.

The police were called and Marie told officers he felt Mr. Quinlan had been flippant with him and had muttered something under his breath once the complaint was made.

He told police: “I know I've done wrong.”

District Judge Leonard Fanning bailed Marie until August 20 for a probation report.

He told the defendant: “Headbutting someone acting in the course of their job is a serious matter.

“You caused significant injury by using your head. It is treated like using a weapon.”

Muslim Punched During Race-Hate Street Attack

A New Cross man, who admitted punching a Muslim in the stomach during a race-hate attack in a local street, is due to be sentenced later today.

John Coombs, 58, of Jerningham Court, Ommaney Road pleaded guilty last month to the racially aggravated assault of Bilal Jabbar in New Cross Road on May 27.

He confronted the victim in the street near his home address and shouted: “You're a Muslim bastard and you should leave my country.

“You killed my family. All you Muslim bastards should leave my country or convert to Christianity.”

Coombs then punched Mr. Jabbar in the stomach.

However, the defendant tried to back-track, insisting he is not a racist and only admitted the offence on the same day as murdered Army drummer Lee Rigby's funeral to bring the prosecution to a speedy conclusion.

"A particular drummer had died  and it was his funeral that day and I did not think it was a good day to cause any acrimony.

“I don't want to start any wars so I thought I would get it over and done with,” he told Bromley Magistrates' Court (pictured).

“I have a lot of Muslim and Pakistani friends.”

DJ Glassed During Mix Desk Row

A bolshie bar customer hurled his glass at the resident DJ – inflicting a cut above the victim's eye – after being told not to place his drink on the mix desk at the landmark west London venue.

George Harry Schwartz, 28, of Ixworth Place, Chelsea was easily traced because he had booked a booth at Henry J Bean's (picture) in King's Road.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court to assaulting resident Friday night DJ Anil Marajh, causing him actual bodily harm, on June 29.

The court heard it was 10.30pm when Schwartz placed his glass on the DJ's booth, but was told to remove it because any spillage could cause damage to the expensive equipment.

Schwartz was handed the glass by Mr.Marajh and immediately threw the contents over the victim before hurling it at the DJ, causing a one and a half inch laceration above his right eye, which required stitches.

He was bailed until August 7 for a pre sentence report.

Teen Used Cloned Amex Card During Harrods Rolex Fraud

A teenager, who tried to con top people's store Harrods out of two expensive Rolex watches worth £13,850 with a bogus American Express card, has been bailed for sentencing.

Rian Merry, 19, (pictured) of Akeman Street, Arbury, Cambridge travelled to exclusive Knightsbridge to carry out the scam using a cloned card, but was detained in the department store by staff.

He pleaded guilty earlier this week at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court to fraud by false representation on May 20, namely dishonestly tendering a fraudulent American Express card with intent to make a gain, namely two Rolex watches.

It is not the teen's first brush with the law having already clocked-up convictions for possession of class C drugs, an offensive weapon, trespass and arson, when £30,000 worth of damage was caused to a former old people's home in Histon Road, Arbury.

His solicitor Mr. John Leemey urged the court to order a pre-sentence report, saying: “The sum was quite high and no doubt you will want to know the background to Mr. Merry.”

Magistrate Mr. Andy Robinson bailed the defendant until August 19, telling him: “The court needs to know more about you.”