Tattoo nailed thief on CCTV

A MAN who stole four gold chains from a jewellers in Weston was caught on CCTV, thanks to a distinctive tattoo below his right eye. Aaron Davis, aged 20, was found guilty of stealing four gold chains from The Gold Market jewellery store, in High Street, valued at £3,500 and £50 cash from a newsagents in Keynsham at North Somerset Courthouse in St Georges on Monday.The court heard how he jumped over the counter and grabbed the gold chains. He then started running from the store. Staff chased him from the shop, but lost him in the town centre. The same person was seen on CCTV with a very distinct tattoo on his face. Police later found 16 fingerprints on the counter, eight belonged to the defendant. He was arrested but the fingerprint evidence was not disclosed. When interviewed Davis said he had not visited Weston in over two years. Davis appeared in court wearing jeans and a blue hoodie. He had short brown hair and a triangular black tattoo on his right cheek, just below his eye.Avanti Pursell, defending, said: "The only matter I would like to discuss is the technical matter of the charge of burglary. Mr Davis explained he did not know that the area of the shop was for staff only, and so the charge should therefore be theft. "The offence was committed in broad daylight, so Mr Davis posed no threats to shop staff or members of the public. Mr Davis had a previous drug problem resulting in debts, which are still outstanding. He used the money from the chains to buy food and drink, and used some of it to pay back his debts. He has no source of income and has found it difficult to get a job."Davis, of Gill Avenue in Fishponds, Bristol, was sentenced to 120 days in a young offenders institute. He was not ordered to pay compensation or costs, on the grounds that with no source of income it would increase his debt, and he might revert back 'to his old ways'.