A FISHERMAN pawned jewellery belonging to his mother and sister but claimed he did not know its true owners. Andrew Hart, aged 32, handed over bracelets and other jewellery worth an estimated £1,100, Plymouth Crown Court heard last Friday. Mr Hart, of Fillace Park, Horrabridge, admitted three counts of fraud. He took the jewellery to a pawnbroker, which he had no authority to do because he was not the true owner. Mr Hart told the court during his trial that his drug-addicted brother Marcus had given him the stolen property for him to sell. The crab fisherman said his brother was trying to settle his drug debts. He was cleared by a jury of burgling his mother's home and breaching a restraining order. The trial was told that his mother and sister lost jewellery worth around £8,000 from a safe — most of which has never been recovered. Andrew Maitland, for the Crown Prosecution Service, told the sentencing hearing that he was paid a total of £495 for the jewellery by the Exeter Street pawnbrokers. The court heard that the jewellery has since been returned to the mother. Geoff Parlby, for Mr Hart, said he had used a passport and there was no question of him hiding his identity at the pawnbrokers. He added that he tried to recover the rest of the jewellery from his brother, but with no success. Judge Paul Darlow said he had to assume that Mr Hart did not know to whom the jewellery belonged. But he said it was clear that his drug-addicted brother had not come by the items honestly. The judge handed Mr Hart a 12-month prison sentence, but suspended it for two years. He must pay costs of £1,500 plus compensation of £495 to the pawnbrokers and £100 victim surcharge.