A 30-YEAR-OLD man stole hundreds of pounds worth of jewellery from his partially sighted mother.
Unemployed Neil Cordell took the valuables from Estelle Cordell's home in Warbank Close in January and February, a court heard this week.
He then pawned the jewellery, including a pair of 14-carat gold earrings and a nine-carat gold pendant, for £222 at a pawnbroker - where they were spotted by his mother.
Croydon Magistrates' Court heard how Cordell, now of Chertsey Crescent, told police he intended to buy the jewellery back.
Prosecuting, Bhavin Patel said: "He had moved back into the family home.
"In February his mother asked him to leave as he was stealing jewellery from her; she discovered the jewellery at the pawnbrokers. She also indicated that, a couple of months before, she had heard Mr Cordell in her bedroom but did not see what he was doing because she is blind in one eye."
Mr Cordell pleaded guilty to theft and was handed a 12-month community order by chair of the bench Peter Knowles on Monday.
Mitigating, Nicole Lodge told the court her client "understands" the harm done to his mother, who is understood to be in her sixties.
She said: "He understands what he has done and the impact this may have had on his mother. £222 may not seem a significant amount but when taken from a person of limited means – that is of significant value to her.
"He does now wish to find meaningful employment.
"He does not accept that he has an addiction but he does admit that he does take recreational drugs and does drink alcohol."
Sentencing, Mr Knowles said: "You have stolen from your family, which is very serious indeed.
"The reason we were taking time is because we were considering whether it has passed the custody threshold.
"In this case we have decided that we will tackle this by means of a community order."
