A 23-YEAR-OLD gardener who stole jewellery from his employer has been jailed.

Christopher Bradshaw had been doing some gardening work at Mrs Green’s home at Edward Gardens, Woolston, on August 18, when she had to go out at around 10am, Warrington Crown Court heard on Friday.

David Jones, prosecuting, said: “Mrs Green left the backdoor unlocked telling Bradshaw and Stuart McIntyre, who he was working with, she was going out and they should go inside if they wanted to make themselves a drink.

“Mr McIntyre saw the defendant going inside for a drink but he was gone for a considerable time.”

He spotted the defendant coming down the stairs on his tiptoes and his boots were at the bottom. He said he had not taken anything.

At 10.30pm Mrs Green realised that a gold bracelet worth £1,800 and a ring with four sapphires worth £700 had been taken from the top drawer of her dressing table.

The court heard that Bradshaw said ‘I thought you might be coming’ to police when he was arrested.

Mr Jones added: “He admitted the two thefts. He said he sold them for £80.”

Bradshaw asked for a further burglary at his neighbour’s house in Lawn Avenue, Orford, on July 30, 2009, to be taken into consideration. He stole two TVs when the owners were away.

Nova Howarth, defending, said: “He is a man of previous good character but for one reason or another he has had two blips. He has always been used to working and having money. It was at a time he didn’t.

“This offence is out of character and everybody is shocked nobody more than Bradshaw himself.”

She said a letter he wrote to the judge was ‘heartfelt and true’ and he was ‘very apologetic’.

Judge Ian Trigger said: “On August 18 a woman who lived in a four-bedroom house really took pity on you, she gave you some work in the garden.

“She had to go out and she put considerable trust in you. She told you you could avail yourself of the kitchen facilities and left the back door unlocked. That was the limit.

“Brazenly and in breach of the trust she imposed on you, you went into the house for the purpose of rummaging.”

He said the items were no doubt sentimental and the victim will probably never see them again.

Judge Trigger said he would be failing in his public duty if he did not jail Bradshaw.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison.