A notorious jewel thief whose “prolific” campaign of raids was only stopped after he appeared on Crimewatch has been jailed for a near £40,000 Dundee jewellery raid.
Michael Walker is already serving a lengthy prison term for a string of thefts at jewellers in the north of England.
On Monday, he was ordered to serve another 12 months behind bars after Dundee Sheriff Court was shown CCTV footage of his raid at Stephen Henderson the Jewellers in Dundee’s Union Street.
Father-of-one Walker, of Liverpool, was seen loitering in the shop’s entrance alcove before opening a door and summoning a sales assistant.
The footage shows Walker trying on two rings before an accomplice – who has never been traced – opens the store’s door and Walker runs out with the rings.
Fiscal depute Vicki Bell told the court: “The first ring is an emerald cut diamond in an 18 carat white gold band and is valued at £25,000.
“The second is a brilliant cut diamond set in a six core setting on an 18 carat white gold band and is valued at £14,500.
“The second man who came to the door was shouting ‘come on, let’s go’.
“He was never caught by the staff member who gave chase and was not traced by police.
“This offence was the first in a course of conduct that then followed at other jewellery shops.”
Walker, 32, a prisoner at HMP Perth, pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of theft.
Defence solicitor Susan Gibson said: “He is serving a two-year, 10-month sentence for thefts to a value of £150,000 imposed at Liverpool Crown Court in December 2016.
“He was in Aberdeen visiting a friend and had been to a casino and lost a lot of money. He is a gambling addict.
“He was in a vicious circle and was in debt and these offences then occurred.”
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael jailed Walker for a year.
