A BUNGLING thief has been warned he could face jail after flogging stolen ornaments worth £11,000 for £50.

David Jones, 37, took the collection of silver owls along with expensive jewellery from a home in Colchester which his partner was housesitting.

The owner only realised the items had been taken when she spotted them while leafing through an auction catalogue.

A police investigation highlighted Jones had sold the items to a cash in hand store for a fraction of what they were worth in a bid to raise quick cash.

Jones admitted a charge of theft in a dwelling, and fraud by false representation by selling on the goods when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Richard Murrison, prosecuting, said the owner had initially confronted Jones’ girlfriend before the truth emerged.

He said: “When the victim returned from her holiday she began looking through an auction catalogue and noticed some ornaments similar to ones she had.

“She went to search for the silver owls but noticed they were gone.

“She also found some jewellery from her bedroom was missing.

“She then confronted her housesitter who denied all knowledge of the theft, but said her boyfriend – David Jones – had also stayed at the address.

“Police were contacted who then went to auctioneers Reeman Dansie who confirmed the items had been sold in February.

“It was established the items had come from Whistons – a cash in hand shop - and had been sold for £50 by David Jones.”

With help from the auctioneers, the silver owls have now been returned to their rightful owner.

Jones, of Lucas Road, Colchester, also sold jewellery – worth roughly £5,000 – for £500 to a cash in hand store in Basildon but the collection has not yet been recovered.

Shade Abiodun, mitigating for Jones, said he had helped police with their enquiries.

She said: “He co-operated with police and offered to join them in Basildon to try and recover the jewellery.

“Of course, it does not take away from what he had done but this was a one off act.”

Magistrates deliberated on whether they would sentence Jones, but eventually decided their powers would not be sufficient and sent the case to Chelmsford Crown Court.

Jones was warned he could face two years in jail at the sentencing hearing next month.

He was granted unconditional bail.