A thief who stole almost £20,000-worth of jewellery from a village shop has been jailed for a year.
John Freeman and an unknown accomplice targeted the small independent dealer after travelling from Wearside to the picturesque village of Corbridge, in Northumberland.
Freeman, of Adventure Lane, West Rainton, distracted the female shopkeeper whil
e a second man stole diamond rings and earrings worth £19,005 from a window display cabinet during the theft in October 2006.
The 45-year-old was captured on CCTV while a hooded man was seen peering in the window from outside.
Prosecutor Tim Gittins told Newcastle Crown Court: "Freeman entered the shop individually and said he was looking for a present."
"The shop assistant was working alone and left Freeman while she went upstairs to get an item."
Mr Gittins told the court the keys to the display cabinet were on a desk behind the till.
Freeman then told the shop assistant he needed to make a phone call outside.
Mr Gittins said: "He came back and said he wanted to see some handbags on the first floor.
"They both went upstairs. The assistant was alarmed when she heard the door chime.
"She got half-way down the stairs and saw the display cabinet was open.
"She called the police and ushered Freeman out the shop."
Freeman, who admitted theft, played down his role and claimed not to know the value of the items stolen.
Stephen Levine, defending, said: "He accepts he benefited in the sum of a couple of hundred pounds."
Sentencing Freeman, Judge Esmond Faulks told Freeman: "The staff will no doubt have been in constant fear of further attacks from people like you."
Freeman was initially also charged with a second distraction theft from an antique shop in County Durham, but that was dropped.
However, Nicholas Rought, of Princess Street, Shiney Row, was sentenced yesterday for the theft.
The 40-year-old targeted Mission Hall Antique centre in Barnard Castle, in March.
He and accomplice Henry Wallace, of Azalea Avenue, Ashbrooke, Sunderland, stole £2,620-worth of bracelets, rings and broaches.
The Judge ordered Rought to a 12-month supervision order with mental health treatment.
Sentencing of Wallace, 42, was adjourned for probation reports until August 21.
