Mum shocked to find out her son stole her mobile phone after discovering it in shop window
A MOTHER who spotted her stolen mobile phone for sale in a shop called police who discovered the thief was her own son.
Jack Reed, 19, used a key to get into the house and steal three phones, a games console and tablet computer.
His mother thought a random burglar was to blame.
But when she went to buy a replacement phone at CEX Exchange in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, she saw her original phone.
Police found the person who sold it to the secondhand store was her son.
The burglary is particularly unpleasant, as it is against your mother
Reed, of Cramlington, Northumberland, was given a suspended 18-week jail term, by South Tyneside magistrates.
He previously admitted the thefts. He told police he had fallen out with his stepdad and took items belonging to him.
Michelle Stonley, defending, said Reed had an unstable lifestyle and left the family home at 16.
Magistrate Barry Hunter said: “The burglary is particularly unpleasant, as it is against your mother.
“We feel only custody is sufficient. But due to your guilty plea and remorse, we will suspend that sentence.”
