Man spared jail after pocketing watch to sell at auction

Fri, 18 Mar 2016

A Douglas man who pocketed a watch he found in a bin before selling it on at auction has been spared jail.

50-year-old William Callow found the Rolex pocket watch - valued at £335 - near his home on Clifton Terrace on October 13th last year.

Believing it to be of value he took it to Chrystals Auction House and deceived the auctioneer that it was his before selling it for £200.

Callow later pleaded guilty to theft and obtaining money by deception - the watch was retrieved and returned to its rightful owner.

At Douglas Courthouse this week his advocate said it wasn't a "mean offence" and Callow had simply tried to "seize the opportunity" to make some money to pay essential bills.

Sentencing him Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes handed him a 12 week suspended prison sentence and ordered him to pay court costs of £125 as well as compensation to Chrystals of £200.