A FATHER-of-four who is battling a cocaine and Valium habit stole a £6,000 watch from his father to settle his drugs debt. 

Joseph Brown, 39, then conned his father into handing over a further £50 by lying to him, claiming that he needed the cash to retrieve the luxury watch from a local pawnbrokers' shop, magistrates heard.

In reality, Brown gave the watch to the drugs criminal to whom he owed a 'significant debt' as a result of his use of cocaine and Valium.

The defendant, now living at Carlisle’s John Street Hostel for homeless men, pleaded guilty to fraud and theft, having committed both offences in December last year.

Prosecutor Graeme Tindall said Brown’s offending stemmed from his drugs habit. At a time when he had access to the home of his parents, they noticed that the key to a safe in their property had gone missing.

On December 12, when they eventually checked inside the safe, they realised that the Breitling watch and £50 cash were missing.

“He was confronted about that and the defendant indicated that he’d pawned the watch at a certain establishment in Carlisle city centre,” said the prosecutor.

Brown told his parents he would need a further £50 to retrieve the watch from the pawnbrokers and so they handed over the cash. 

Despite later police checks being made, the watch was never found.

Brown admitted in court that he’d invented the pawn shop story, and he actually gave the watch to a drug dealer in lieu of a debt that he owed. A probation officer who interviewed Brown said his remorse appeared to be genuine.

Questioned by District Judge John Temperley, the defendant said he had accrued a 'significant debt with the wrong kind of people.'

“That’s where the watch went,” he said.

Asked about the pawn shop, he said: “That’s just what I told my parents at the time. I would never have been in a position to get that item back.” He said he still used Valium and cocaine.

“But I don’t use as much,” he said. “I need support to sort myself out. I would not like to go to jail. It’s in your hands, judge.”

Asked if he was serious about tackling his drugs problem, Brown said he was 'deadly serious.'

A trained joiner, Brown said he planned to resume working with his father, though he accepted what happened would affect their relationship. The judge said the offending demonstrated a clear breach of trust.

District Judge Temperley said he was confident that Brown can work with the Probation Service to tackle his problems and this was why he drew back from sending the defendant to prison.

He imposed a 12-month community order, with 30 rehabilitation activity days, a drug rehabilitation requirement and 200 hours of unpaid work.

The judge ordered no compensation, saying Brown’s father could recover the cost of the lost watch from his son’s wages.

He warned Brown that any breach of the order would leave him at risk of being resentenced and sent to jail.

The defendant must pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.