A THIEF who stole more than £2,000 in sentimental jewellery from an elderly lady has avoided jail for a third time.

Ross Carr escaped with a community order following the callous theft.

Despite being fortunate to avoid a prison sentence he still twice ignored the terms of his community order.

He admitted breaching the order again at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday and was again given another chance.

Carr, 27, of De Vere Road, Earls Colne, was working and living in Harwich at the time of the original theft.

While employed by Harwich Glass & Window Co Ltd he was working at the home of an 81-year-old woman in Harwich.

While there, on October 14, 2015, he stole the jewellery.

The same day Carr took it to the pawnbrokers Cash Exchange and immediately sold it.

When the jewellery was reported missing police contacted the company and asked who had been there.

CCTV from the pawn shop allowed them to match it to Carr.

He was given a community order for theft with 120 hours unpaid work, ten rehabilitation activity days.

By yesterday, when he admitted the second breach of the order, he had committed just five hours unpaid work and two of the rehabilitation days.

Matthew Swash, mitigating, asked the court to give him a final chance and said he had been working.

District Judge Susan Holdham said: "I am astounded at the sentence that was originally passed.

"I understand the requirement to have employment but it is also important you complete unpaid work."

She re-sentenced him to 16 weeks in prison for the theft.

The sentence was suspended for 12 months with 115 unpaid work and eight rehabilitation days.

He was told if he breaches the order again the suspended sentence will be imposed.