A CREWKERNE man who sold his mother-in-law’s jewellery after finding it in his wife’s car splurged the cash on beer and kebabs for himself.

Steven Wilkie discovered the two missing rings and took them to a local antiques centre and got £30 for them both.

He then bought a takeaway and booze, despite being in thousands of pounds worth of debt.

When the matter was reported to the police, they traced the whereabouts of the rings and a description of the man who had sold them matched the defendant and he was arrested.

Wilkie, 31, of Red Lion Court, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods, namely two rings belonging Nicola Bussell on August 29, at Crewkerne Antiques Centre, when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates.

The court at Yeovil was told that Wilkie was married to the victim’s daughter who had been organising a birthday party for their young son when she discovered her purse had gone missing from her handbag.

“She told the family and everyone helped to look for it but it was not found and the theft was reported to the police,” said prosecutor Lucy Coleman.

“Inside the purse was some cash, a wedding ring and another ring but Mrs Bussell suspected the defendant may have taken it because he was in debt.

“Enquiries were made with local second hand jewellery shops and police were told that an antiques centre in Crewkerne had bought two rings matching the description and the male had given his details as S. Wilkie and his current address.

“The victim identified the rings and when the defendant was arrested he tested positive for cocaine.”

He was interviewed by police and admitted being at the house but denied taking the purse or money.

He said he had been clearing out his wife’s car and found the rings under some rubbish and panicked as he felt everyone was accusing him of taking them.

“He admitted selling the rings and thought he was given £30 and spent it on kebabs and beers for himself that evening but said he should have given them back,” said Miss Coleman.

“He could not account for how the rings got into the vehicle but said he had just started a new job and his wife was pregnant with their second child.

“He also owed £8,000 to his mother-in-law for a loan, had payday loans and his current account was also overdrawn and he had no money to pay the rent.”

He added that he was not dependent on drugs but used cocaine now and then.

A victim impact statement from the victim read to the court and told of the “massive impact” the offence had had upon her family.

She said: “It has made my life hell and made me ill and I have not been able to sleep and am anxious.

“My faith in human nature has been destroyed and as a family we should not have to go through all of this.”

Defending solicitor Chris Ivory said Wilkie was very sorry for the position he had put his wife in and wanted to express his remorse for the offence.

“He was compliant with the police on arrest and made full admissions but was charged with a handling offence and did not have anything to do with the theft of the rings or the money from the purse,” he said.

“He works as a car parts salesman and has a number of health issues for which he is prescribed medication and this was an isolated incident and he feels very ashamed and embarrassed about what has happened.”

The magistrates told Wilkie he had committed a serious breach of trust within his family.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with a 25-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work. Costs of £85, a £180 court charge and £60 victim surcharge were also imposed.