A man who sold a stolen vacuum cleaner to an Ipswich pawnbrokers but failed to get the £5 he was promised for doing so has appeared in court.

Ashley Holton, of Wherstead Road, Ipswich, admitted handling stolen goods when he appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates Court.

However, the magistrates heard the person who asked him to sell the £100 yellow Hoover on ran off with the money Holton received without given him the fiver he agreed to give him from the proceeds.

Prosecutor Stephen Colman said the vacuum cleaner belonged to Cavendish Lodge in Turret Lane, Ipswich.

On August 16 workers became aware the item had been taken. A member of staff had seen the same Hoover was on sale at Cash Exchange a short distance away in Tacket Street.

Mr Colman told the court Holton had taken the cleaner into the store at 11.10am on August 11 telling staff it was his to sell.

His fingerprint was taken when he sold it on to the shop.

Magistrates were told Holton had been jailed for 120 days by North Kent magistrates earlier this year for an harassment offence.

Mark Holt, representing Holton, said the 27-year-old, was released from prison in July after serving 60 days of his sentence.

Holton had been given £46 when he was released, but was not eligible to receive benefits until October 1.

Originally from Gillingham, Holton relocated to Ipswich as his brother was a serving soldier at Wattisham.

Mr Holt told the magistrates: “£46 only goes so far. This offence was committed in the context that if he sold the Hoover through his Cash Exchange account he would get £5.

“He gives the £20 to the other gentleman who then runs off down the road, so he never even got the £5.

“Someone caught him on an off-day and he succumbed to that”.

Magistrates gave Holton a six-month conditional discharge.

He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to Cavendish Lodge, as well as £180 criminal courts charge and £20 to the victims’ fund.