An auction boss has asked “Where is the justice?” after thieves who stole a £3k haul of silver from an antiques centre avoided jail.

Drug addicts Glen Cassidy, 36, and Peter Myall, 49, of Bocking End, Braintree, admitted burglary after they stole about £3,770 worth of silver from Bocking Antiques Centre, based in Bocking Arts Theatre.

In August, the centre in Bocking End, was broken into and again in November before a third raid on December 5.

The pair admitted the burglary in December.

Martin Crossman, director of Bocking Arts Theatre Antique Auctions, said the centre’s business was “barely surviving” following the stream of raids.

Patrick Jacobs, who owns the antiques centre, added: "The knock-on effect of the burglary has obviously affected people's confidence in putting their items in the centre, which has affected trade."