While she was looking after her children, Crick, of St Paul's Street, Ramsbottom, who was left to complete the delivery, went into her bedroom and pocketed her wedding and engagement rings, worth a combined £3,500.

At Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Wednesday, prosecutor Peter Malone said Crick then asked his colleague to drive him to Cash Emporium in Mossley, where he traded the jewellery in for £250.

Much to her horror, the mum soon realised her rings had been stolen and reported the incident to police.

Crick was arrested and admitted stealing the precious items, which were returned to the owner.

He described the theft as "opportunist" rather than planned.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said "she thinks it was appalling" that Crick, who was in a "position of trust" took the rings and was "mortified" when she saw that they had been taken.

The court heard Crick had nine previous convictions, with his last before this case happening 11 years ago, in 2010.

He had previously been convicted of theft from an employee.

Defending, Rachel White said Crick, 37, accepts it was a "disgraceful" crime and is "ashamed" of his actions, which he was doing to pay off a drug debt that he had been given a deadline to pay off.

He had also not long broken up with his partner and was struggling with depression.

Ms White said he is no longer taking drugs.

Addressing Crick in court, Recorder David Wood told him that he was "lucky" that the rings had been returned otherwise it would have been harder to keep him out of prison.

He accepted that Crick was "genuinely sorry" and took his family commitments into consideration with the defendant weeping in the dock.

Recorder Wood added: "I am giving you a chance."

For one count of theft from a home, Crick was given a 12-month sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days of 200 hours of unpaid work.