'Mean' son who pawned mum's jewels sent to prison

A MAN who pawned his own mum's jewellery to make some cash was branded "mean" by a sheriff and locked up for six months.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard David Wright, 40, was asked by his mum Helen Wright, 65, to look after a number of her valuable items.

When she asked for her keepsakes back, however, he was evasive and she eventually contacted police.

Sheriff James Scott told Wright: "This was a really mean-spirited thing to do."

He said his sentence would have been nine months in prison but was reduced due to his guilty plea and the fact that his mum was spared the experience of having to give evidence in court.

The jewellery had been recovered and returned to Mrs Wright who said: "Justice has been served."

Wright, of Wester Drylaw Row, Edinburgh, admitted stealing his mum's jewellery on 27 June, 2008, at his home address and elsewhere.

Defence agent James Stewart said Wright was suffering from depression.