Sheffield burglar stole £13,000 of "irreplaceable" jewellery and family heirlooms

A Sheffield burglar who stole thousands of pounds of "irreplaceable" jewellery and family heirlooms was told he will “never know how much hurt he has brought” to the owners, a court has heard.
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Anthony Wragg ransacked the house on Newcroft Close, Sothall, Sheffield, after removing a sliding back door, at 2.15pm, on December 11, 2020, said prosecutor Gareth Henderson-Moore.

He ripped open wrapped Christmas presents, and took £16,000 of jewellery from boxes he left strewn on the bedroom floor, including wedding, engagement and eternity rings, as well as important documents and mementos of the occupants' family.

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Although some of the items were later recovered, around £13,000 of jewellery - including diamond, ruby and sapphire rings, a necklace containing the ashes of the occupant's dead mother, and an antique watch that belonged to her father - remains missing.

Stock - burglary / break inStock - burglary / break in
Stock - burglary / break in

In a statement, the owner said: "This person has taken everything from us. He will never know how much hurt he has brought to our family.

"I can't stop crying everytime I think I will never see these items again.

"Words will never express the hurt I went through. It was like losing my mother all over again. This will mean nothing to anyone else, but the world to our family."

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Wragg was also found in possession of two bikes, stolen from a set of four during a burglary in Sheffield, in October last year, and valued at £16,000.

The court heard he has 37 previous convictions for 86 offences, and 31 are for theft and burglary.

Bianca Brasoveanu, mitigating, said his record was "reflective of a number of bad decisions" and his "problematic living environment."

"He regrets his actions and the consequences," she said. "There is very little I can say in mitigation.

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"He said he chose the house because the occupants weren't in. He was wearing gloves because it was December. There is no evidence any tool was involved in the removal of the door."

The court heard Wragg felt “obliged to satisfy a debt owed to former associates.”

Wragg, 34, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to dwelling house burglary and handling stolen goods.

Recorder Paul Kirtley told him that letters from his partner convinced him Wragg hoped to start afresh when he is released. He sentenced him to three years and four months.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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