A ‘cheeky’ thief walked out of a top London auctio
A ‘cheeky’ thief walked out of a top London auction house carrying a 300-year-old grandfather clock, a court heard today (Tuesday).
The six foot high antique, valued at between pnds stlng 7,000 and pnds stlng 10,000, was simply loaded into a car and driven away from Phillips Auctioneers in New Bond Street on March 8, this year.
Lloyd Alborough was later arrested at rival auctioneers Sotheby’s – after being trailed by security guards as he showed a magpie-like interest in other valuables.
The timepiece was never recovered – the father-of-one claiming he sold it for pnds stlng 1,000.
At London’s Southwark Crown Court, the 37-year-old former builder, of Ashwood Road, Potters Bar, Herts, escaped doing time after admitting the theft of the 1710 Longcase clock.
Instead, Alborough was ordered to pay pnds stlng 800 compensation and sentenced to 60 hours community service and two years probation, Judge Geoffrey Rivlin, QC, said the defendant ‘targeted and stole’ from Phillips.
‘This was not a chance or opportunist offence – you knew what you were doing, and knew how to dispose of this item.
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I am sure you knew this was a serious offence.
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And the judge added: ‘Although at one time it appeared this was one of a series of offences, I am told you are before the court for one offence only.
‘If there was one more offence before me today, it would have been prison.
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He warned that should Alborough breach the order he would still receive a ‘substantial’ period in custody.
The judge said he took into account the defendant’s frankness with police, his last conviction for dishonesty was four years ago, and he was a family man.
He said probation officers had made ‘powerful’ recommendations Alborough should be given a chance of treatment to beat his cocaine habit.
Isabel Dakyns, prosecuting, said a Phillips security guard noticed the defendant acting suspiciously at the auction house two days before the theft and with a supervisor studied closed circuit television footage of the stranger.
Two days later the clock went missing.
Miss Dakyns said again CCTV footage revealed ‘the defendant entering a lounge area where the clock had been and
carrying it out.
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The barrister said a ‘number’ of other charges were brought against the defendant but magistrates had discharged them when the prosecution were not ready to proceed to commit them to the crown court.
David Brock, defending, said his client was desperate for money at the time as he owed a pnds stlng 1,000 cocaine debt to his supplier and threats were being made against his family.
‘He admits he went to the auction house, saw the clock and went back some days later with his vehicle,’ said Mr Brock.
‘He simply walked in and picked it up – this six foot clock, a very very large object – but he had the cheek to walk in and carry it to his car.
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Counsel said Alborough had turned his back on drugs doing ‘dramatic and lawless things’ because of his addiction.
‘He wants to say to the court and the owners of the clock, one does not know the insurance position, that he is sorry.
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ends
