A BURGLAR from Frome who stole a stuffed barn owl and a three feet tall African carved statue of a man has been given a suspended one-year prison sentence.

Shaun Sheldon, aged 46, of Gipsy Lane, had earlier admitted breaking into a three-bedroom semi-detached stone cottage in Shepton Mallet in February of last year.

He had been remanded in custody until a sentencing hearing in Taunton Crown Court held on Thursday (October 15).

Recorder David Chidgey heard Sheldon also stole a bizarre list of other items of a value which was unknown.

It included a deep red colour acoustic electric guitar, a 12-inch dark iron ice pick with a wooden handle, two accordions in their cases, and a standard lamp with a black tripod stand and a black metal shade.

His haul also included a three feet tall china vase, a child’s leather biker jacket, a wooden mantle piece clock, a banker’s light with a brass base and green glass shade, a pale grey stone with lichen garden statue of two entwined cherubs, a white kayak, a Hornby train set, multiple wooden framed images of insects, two small vintage women’s watches, and two chimeras.

The court was told the stuffed owl had been mounted in a 12 inches by 12 inches wooden case which Sheldon also stole.

Sheldon, who was represented by barrister Tobias Collins, had changed his plea to guilty when he appeared in court in September.

Recorder Chidgey sentenced Sheldon to 12 months’ imprisonment but suspended the order for 18 months.

He also ordered Sheldon to pay a victim fund surcharge of £187 by November 15.

The crown court is currently sitting in the North Somerset magistrates court buildings in Worle, Weston super Mare, while renovation work continues on its Shire Hall, Taunton, premises.