Jailed: Burglar stole wedding ring from Newport house weeks before big day

Nathan Baker stole up to £14,000 of jewellery from the property in Wellington Road, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.

He threw a brick at patio doors and removed the glass to get inside.

Mr Robert Edwards, prosecuting, said the home owner had left the address secure on the morning of May 8.

But the court heard that when he returned in the evening he found the front door open.

Mr Edwards said the owner found a jewellery box upturned on a bed and items were missing.

The court was told that jewellery and watches, worth between £12,000 and £14,000, had been taken.

Mr Edwards said among the items taken was an engagement ring and a wedding ring that he was going to use to marry his partner.

He told the court: "The wedding ring was of great sentimental value to him."

The wedding was scheduled to take place within weeks of the offence.

Baker was caught on an indoor security camera and he was later identified when images were posted on Facebook.

Mr Edwards said CCTV footage showed Baker entering the property and going upstairs.

He said Baker returned downstairs shortly afterwards with his pockets "seemingly full".

Baker then left via the front door, leaving it open.

When he was interviewed by police, Baker told officers he had sold the jewellery and watches for £1,000 and was unable to recover them.

He admitted using a brick to break patio windows.

Baker was also sentenced at yesterday's hearing for a separate charge of common assault from April 24.

The court was told he had thrown an uppercut at his girlfriend's ex-partner, splitting his lip.

Baker, aged 25, of no fixed abode, admitted both the burglary and assault.

Mr Paul Smith, representing Baker, asked that credit be given for his guilty pleas.

Sentencing him, Judge Peter Barrie told Baker he had a "bad and lengthy record" for burglary offences.

The court was told the offences were committed after Baker had been released on licence after serving time in prison for two previous burglaries.

Judge Barrie told Baker: "A serious aggravating feature is your bad record of previous burglary offences and the fact you were on licence."

Baker was sentenced to 876 days in prison for the burglary offence.

He was also given a 14-day consecutive jail term for the charge of common assault.