Man stole jewellery while surveying people's homes

A man has admitted stealing jewellery worth more than £13,000 after being allowed into two homes to carry out surveys on the properties.

During the crimes, which took place in Gentleshaw and Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, James Lancashire helped himself to items including rings, watches and a commemorative coin.

At Stafford Crown Court on Tuesday, the 37-year-old, from Church Stretton in Shropshire, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft from a dwelling.

He is due to be sentenced at the same court on 20 March.

Staffordshire Police said Lancashire had been working in the property industry when he conducted a survey of a home in Gentleshaw on 20 May 2024.

It said there was a man in his 60s in the house at the time and it was only three days later he discovered jewellery worth £2,250, including a sovereign ring, a gold-plated watch and a limited-edition coin commemorating the death of Queen Elizabeth II, were missing.

The force said eight days later, Lancashire was booked to do a survey at a house in Maer, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

This time, a woman in her 50s showed him around before letting him get on with the task she expected.

She later found he had taken from her bedroom a platinum diamond ring, an engagement ring, a wedding ring and a Tag diver's watch, worth a total of about £11,000.

Police said after Lancashire was arrested, the sovereign ring was found at a pawn shop in Telford and returned to the man.

PC Daniel Marsh, who worked on the case, said: "Lancashire was allowed into his victims' homes as he should have been there for work, but instead he took advantage of them..."

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