A WOMAN who sold stolen jewellery was arrested after a shopkeeper became suspicious, Skipton magistrates heard.

The Keighley shop owner had parted with £270 for items of jewellery brought in by 24-year-old Sarah Johnson.

But the court was told the goods had been stolen from the home of Skipton jeweller Geoffrey Thomas during a burglary.

Johnson, formerly of Alma Terrace, Skipton, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods, and to two charges of obtaining money by deception.

Caroline Midgley, prosecuting, said nearly £12,000 worth of jewellery had been stolen in the burglary, including a gold signet ring and an 18 carat ruby and diamond ring.

More than £2,700 worth of property was recovered when Johnson, who used to work in Skipton, was arrested.

Johnson had sold some of the stolen items to two jewellers in Keighley, one of whom telephoned the police and handed over CCTV footage of the defendant.

When she was arrested she said she had handed over the money to someone else and had received drugs worth £10 in payment.

John Eyre, in mitigation, described the incident as 'an unsophisticated crime'. He added Johnson had been given the stolen property by the owner's daughter Jane.

She had been asked to sell it because she owed the other woman some money.

'This is a tragic situation where a young lady who has never been in trouble before has got into difficulties,' he said.

Magistrates ordered pre-sentence reports to be compiled and remanded Johnson on unconditional bail until January 29.

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