| Antiques dealer guilty of Jerry Hall raid |
An antiques dealer has been found guilty of burgling the home of Jerry Hall and stealing property worth more than £7,000.
David Bryce, 33, had denied taking the items which included computer equipment and jewellery.
But his fingerprints were found on a candlestick left near Ms Hall's home in Richmond, south west London, Kingston Crown Court was told.
Recorder Humfrey Malins told Bryce that he faced a substantial custodial sentence and adjourned sentencing for reports on him.
Other valuables stolen when the actress's home was burgled by Bryce and an accomplice last September were a computer worth 2,000, two silver ornamental candlesticks valued at £5,000, a gold pearl earring worth £100, an umbrella and dumb-bell.
Recorder Mr Malins told the antiques dealer after the jury had found him guilty on a majority 11-1 verdict: "The jury have found you guilty of a particularly nasty burglary offence.
"This was an offence which took place late at night which is a very aggravating factor at a private dwelling being occupied by people including a young child.
"Have you any concept of the terrifying position of residents of property if their home is broken into late at night?"
The court was told Bryce, of Brondesbury Villas, west Hampstead, north London, had been convicted of 44 offences dating back to 1980 including a number of handling, theft and assault offences.
Recorder Mr Malins said: "Let me tell you that you are facing a custodial sentence and a substantial one at that for this crime."
Story filed: 16:19 Tuesday 18th September 2001
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