£3,000 diamond ring thief faces prison

A mum who stole a £3,000 diamond ring from an Uppingham jewellers by swapping it for a "worthless" substitute has been warned she may face jail.

Kimbra Rees made the audacious switch in PG Fine Jewellery, in High Street East, after asking to look at engagement rings.

The 41-year-old then tried the same trick three weeks later with a diamond crucifix – but was caught red-handed by staff.

Rees, of Wilkes Gardens, Uppingham, was found guilty of theft and attempted theft by a jury at Leicester Crown Court.

Recorder Geoffrey Solomons told her: "I make it clear these are serious matters and all sentencing options remain open."

Sentencing was adjourned until March 16 for reports. Rees was released on bail.

Her trial had been told how she walked into the store on March 22 last year and asked to view rings worth between £5,000 and £6,000.

She was told the store didn't have any in that price bracket, but when sales assistant Natalie Burdett called another branch to see if they did, Rees made the switch using a ring she had in her pocket.

Even though Miss Burdett realised almost instantly that the rings had been exchanged, she was unable to stop Rees leaving the shop in time.

Miss Burdett told the jury how Rees must have exchanged the rings when she turned her back for a "split second" during the call to another branch.

She said: "I turned around and said that the other branch didn't have anything of the value she requested.

"She thanked me for my help and walked out of the shop. Instantly, I noticed the most expensive ring, which was white gold with diamonds all the way around the band, and worth about £3,300, was missing and had been replaced by something completely different. I was shocked."

The court heard the substitute ring appeared to be a white gold or silver sovereign ring with a stone set in it.

Miss Burdett said she panicked and ran out of the shop to try and catch up with Rees. But when she was unable to spot her, she went
back into the store and called the police.

Miss Burdett added that she was shocked when Rees walked into the store two weeks later, on April 5.

She left without asking to view anything, but returned six days later, asking to look at a selection of diamond crucifixes.

Miss Burdett asked colleague Claire Morrissey to serve Rees, then kept watch.

Miss Burdett told the jury she heard Miss Morrissey shout, "What are you doing, put that back", and saw Rees "fumbling" with something.

Miss Burdett said she and her colleague confronted Rees and asked to search her coat because they weren't sure if one of the crucifixes belonged to the shop or not.

In a pocket they found three items of jewellery, including a "low value" diamond crucifix similar to the one Rees had viewed.

The jury heard Rees was allowed to leave the shop but was arrested nine days later.

She claimed the costume jewellery had been left in her pocket by her daughter.