POLICE in London have launched an appeal to find £18,000 worth of family jewellery stolen by a London Irishman just weeks before Christmas last year.
John Mallaghan, 43, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on June 27 to six years and three months imprisonment after previously pleading guilty.
John Mallaghan has been jailed for six years and three months. (Picture: Met Police)On December 7, 2016, two people living in a flat on Shoreditch High Street in Hackney returned home from work to discover that their bedroom had been ransacked and items worth over £18,000 had been stolen.
The items taken included diamond rings, earrings, necklaces, watches and charms, as well as a quantity of cash.
Police were immediately called and specialist forensic officers examined the scene.
A drinks carton, which had been discarded at the flat, was discovered and was sent to the forensic lab for DNA analysis.
Saliva was recovered from the carton, which matched Mallaghan's profile.
Detectives from Hackney CID launched a manhunt as he did not have a permanent address.
On February 21 Mallaghan was located and arrested as officers swooped on him walking in the street.
He was searched and found to be in possession of an improvised pipe designed to smoke crack cocaine.
He was interviewed by the investigation team but refused to cooperate, simply replying 'no comment' in response to every question posed.
He was charged on the same day and was remanded in custody until the trial.
In an emotional impact statement, one of the victims described the "significant impact and sentimental cost" of the crime.
Items stolen included jewellery which was handed down to her by both her mother and grandmother and were irreplaceable.
She is also now afraid to be in the flat alone and feels especially violated as her bedroom was targeted.
The stolen property has not yet been recovered and detectives have released a number of images of the jewellery in an appeal to trace them.
The stolen watch was a ladies gold 'Longines' bought in 1980 which does not have the date dial on it. One of the rings is made of pearl which sits on a gold flower.
Another ring is a diamond solitaire and the sides have a ridge. The diamond compliments the width of the ring. A three diamond pendant was also taken.
Detective Inspector Paul Ridley, the Senior Investigating officer from Hackney CID, said: "The length of the sentence imposed by the judge represents the many aggravating factors in this case, which includes targeting a substantial amount of irreplaceable and high value jewellery and raiding the home only weeks before Christmas, as well as Mallaghan's ensuing propensity to burgle people's houses.
"He has shown absolutely no regard to the victims and is likely to have sold the items for a fraction of the true value in order to fund his addiction.
"The victims have been left devastated by the loss of these heirlooms and would plead with anyone that knows of the whereabouts of the items to inform police.
"This case is made even more poignant by the fact that the victim's mother, who cherished the sentimental gold watch, died only weeks ago, bequeathing the precious time-piece to her daughter.
"The items are distinctive and I am confident that someone will recognise them. Perhaps you have been offered these items for sale?"
