A man stole a pensioner’s heirlooms to feed his drug addiction.
But last night, his victim said: “I felt quite sorry for him.”
Mrs Angela Winstone-Dickson will now be reunited with the treasure trove of jewellery that police recovered just hours before it was due to be smelted down.
It was taken by drug addict Stuart Leach to feed his habit but he had a conscience and handed himself in to police.
Detectives managed to recover most of the stolen items, which included a locket containing a piece of Mrs Winstone-Dickson’s grandmother’s hair.
Leach, 23, handed himself into police hours after the burglary at the widow’s home in Marsden.
The burglar-with-a-conscience was in custody last night, to face sentencing by a crown court judge.
Det Sgt Mark Walker of Huddersfield CID, said some of the gold jewellery had been hours away from being smelted down.
He said: “Fortunately we intercepted it just in time.”
A relieved Mrs Winstone-Dickson, who runs her own business in Quarmby, said: “It’s been quite a dramatic few days and the police have been absolutely marvellous from first to last.
“To be honest I felt quite sorry for the burglar. Trust me to be burgled and then for him to hand himself in!
“The police haven’t brought me any of the items back yet but I am looking forward to being reunited with them.
“It wasn’t the value of the jewellery that bothered me so much as the sentimental value of them.”
Kirklees magistrates heard the offence took place on July 25 and the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.
The court heard workmen had been working in the house and windows had been left open to let out dust.
A chest of drawers in the back bedroom had been rifled through and over £5,000 worth of jewellery had been taken.
A laptop and other electrical items were also missing and all of the stolen items totalled over £6,600.
Vanessa Schofield, prosecuting, described many of the pieces taken as being of great sentimental value to the woman.
These included a gold locket containing a picture of Mrs Winstone-Dickson’s grandmother Isabella O’Kane, who died 30 years ago.
Ms Schofield said: “There was a ring worth £1,200 which she got for her 60th birthday and a watch valued at £1,000 which was bought in Egypt.
“Also taken was a locket with a photo of her grandmother and piece of her hair inside which was of enormous sentimental value to the complainant.”
Ms Schofield added: “The house was in quite a rural location and there may be a degree of planning in relation to that.”
Leach, of Oliver Lane, Marsden, sold the jewellery to Ramsdens pawnbrokers in Huddersfield town centre.
The pieces are being processed so they can be returned to their owner.
The burglar handed himself in to police the following day and tested positive for opiates and cocaine following his arrest.
Ms Schofield said: “He told police that his habit had spiralled out of control, that he couldn’t afford the drugs without committing crimes.”
Magistrates heard that Leach had two previous convictions for burglary.
Rachel Smith, mitigating, said her client admitted taking all of the items except two watches.
The bench sent him to Leeds Crown Court for sentence on August 27 and remanded him in custody.
