A MAN who took part of a high value stolen jewellery haul to a pawn broker's is behind bars for three months.

Burnley magistrates heard how Michael Duckworth, 21, and an accomplice were given £75 for the jewels, which the worried owner had carried around in her handbag.

Duckworth, of Dall Street, Burnley, admitted handling stolen goods.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, told the court the victim had 19 separate items of jewellery, worth almost £8,000, which her husband had bought for her from around the world.

She preferred to keep them with her at all times and would carry the jewels around in her handbag.

On March 22, she went to a florist's shop for a few minutes and left her bag in her car, which was alarmed. The vehicle was broken into, a window smashed and the bag and contents were taken.

Also in the haul were savings and bank books.

About an hour and a half later, the defendant went into Kings pawn broker's in Burnley and tried to get rid of some of the jewels.

He and an accomplice were paid £75 in cash for three rings and a bracelet, which were worth a lot more.

Miss Statham said police later searched a house where they knew Duckworth, and possibly his accomplice, had been living, and although it was empty, some of the jewellery was found.

They came across the defendant walking around town and he claimed he had been given the jewels in a pub and asked to pawn them. He was not prepared to tell police who he got them off.

The prosecutor said quite a lot of the jewels had not been recovered. Duckworth had a particularly bad record and had previous convictions for burglary.

Dylan Bradshaw, defending, said Duckworth had been approached by the man who stole the jewellery and asked if he would take some to the pawn broker's and get cash.

The defendant had been short of money and felt a little intimidated by the man. He went to the pawn broker's and was captured on video. He had been in custody since April 8.