A recycling worker who came across tens of thousands of pounds worth of jewellery in with paper waste has been sentenced to 100 hours of community service, after he stole the items and fraudulently sold them on.
David Board, 71, took 12 items of jewellery that he found during his normal duties at Mayside Recycling in September 2018.
The defendant claimed he believed the items - which included bracelets and an Omega watch - had been dumped or abandoned, so he was doing nothing wrong.
A few months later, when Board found himself short on money, he took some of the jewellery to Ray & Scott on the Bridge to sell. He signed documents stating that the items belonged to him and was given £470 in exchange for them.
Pictured: The defendant stole some of the jewellery to Ray & Scott.
He kept the most expensive items of jewellery, which were later valued at £35,000.
Board was arrested in May last year, following an investigation into the missing items. He appeared in court last month, where he was found guilty of stealing and making a false representation.
The defendant was sentenced in court last week, where he was given 100 hours of community service as a direct alternative to four months in prison, which he will have to serve if he doesn't complete the unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £470 in compensation to Ray & Scott.
In light of the incident, Mayside Recycling has introduced a new policy on high value items found at the facility.
Pictured top: The defendant was sentenced in Guernsey's Magistrate's Court.
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