A THIEF who stole antiques from his landlord and sold them at auction is beginning a suspended sentence today.Adam Pitcher, 29, of Tymmes Place, Hasketon, pleaded guilty to stealing £1,250 of items from an address in Lower Street, Ufford.

A THIEF stole antiques from his landlord but auctioned them off for a fraction of what they were worth.

Adam Pitcher, 29, of Tymmes Place, Hasketon, pleaded guilty to stealing £1,250 of items from an address in Lower Street, Ufford.

However, the items only fetched £208 when he sold them at an auction in Diss.

At the time of the thefts Pitcher was renting an annexe flat next to the home of his victims between November 1, 2004 and March 19 this year.

Stephen Colman, prosecuting at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court, said: "The lady concerned noticed two ceramic pots from the garden were missing.

"She then noticed a bag of golf clubs was missing and a number of other items.

"She went into his studio flat to clean and saw documentation relating to an auction house in Diss. She found the items had been sold at auction."

Pitcher admitted stealing a table, golf clubs, garden pots, a weather vane and a boot scraper from the property.

Judge David Cooper sentenced Pitcher to a three-month sentence suspended for 12 months.

Pitcher was also ordered to pay £625 in compensation and £43 in costs.

Judge Cooper said: "What you did is so serious I have got to pass a prison sentence but it is a suspended sentence. What makes it so serious is the breach of trust.

"It is a horrible thing for them (the victims) to have to endure and they are going to look twice at all future tenants."

Defending Pitcher Dino Barricella said: "In relation to the offence I can really offer no mitigation.

"He is a working man who works very hard and long shifts. He has three children.

"He is remorseful for his actions."