Thief jailed for jewellery theft

A MAN who stole £17,000 worth of jewellery after breaking into a house was today locked up for 16 months.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard just a Tag Heuer watch worth 1,000 was recovered from the haul taken by Paul Stirling, 27.

Stirling gained entry to the property at Edinburgh's Craigleith Road by smashing a window.

Stirling, a prisoner in Edinburgh, admitted breaking into the house and stealing a television and a quantity of jewellery between 17 October, 2009, and 21 October, 2009.

The court heard Stirling had four previous convictions for housebreaking and was on licence at the time of the offence.

Sheriff Derrick McIntyre ordered him to return to prison for 117 days due to Stirling being on licence which will be followed by the 16 month sentence.