Newcastle man stole gold bracelet from dying friend

Newcastle man stole gold bracelet from dying friend

16 November 2016

WHEN Newcastle man Paul Morgan passed away earlier this year his family noticed that a prized gold bracelet was missing.

They suspected one of Paul’s friends, Gerard Canavan, had stolen it and contacted police who asked the 33 year-old if he knew anything about the missing bracelet.

Canavan denied any knowledge but police investigations eventually established that Canavan had  indeed stolen the bracelet and sold it to a pawnbroker the day after Mr Morgan passed away.

Canavan, of Dunwellan Park, appeared at Downpatrick Court on Monday and was convicted of stealing the bracelet, valued at £235, from his friend.

Mr Morgan died on May 11 this year and family members quickly realised the bracelet was missing. The last time it had been seen was on May 6 and the family members suspected it had been stolen by Canavan.

The police interviewed Canavan on May 13 but he denied ever having seen Mr Morgan wearing the bracelet, the court was told.

However, police quickly established that Canavan visited a pawnbroker on May 12 and sold the bracelet for 

£235. When they challenged Canavan about their discovery he changed his story and claimed to have bought the bracelet from his friend for £250 before his death.

Defence barrister Mr Noel Dillon said Mr Morgan had stayed at Canavan’s home for a few days before his death and sold the bracelet to Canavan during that time. 

He told the court that his client denied stealing the bracelet.

Finding the defendant guilty of theft, District Judge Mr Greg McCourt described it as “quite a mean, nasty offence.”

Sentencing was adjourned until the court sitting on December 8 to give the Probation Service time to prepare a pre-sentence report.

Police retrieved the bracelet from the pawnbroker, but it will remain with the PSNI until this matter is dealt with by the court, the judge said.

Also at this week’s court Canavan pleaded guilty to possession of the cocaine and Alprazolam on May 11. These charges were also adjourned to December 8.