A fence was caught with a valuable set of war medals just two days after they had been stolen in a burglary and arson at a dead pensioner's home.
William Donnelly claimed he had bought the medals and other items from someone else who had raided and set light to the empty house where retired policeman Gilbert Vickery had lived until his death.
The medals, a watch, and a pair of binoculars were all taken from a display cabinet at his home in Rundle Road, Newton Abbot in the Boxing Day burglary.
The house was set alight by the intruder before they left and fire crews from Newton Abbot and Torquay were called out to bring the blaze under control.
Donnelly, who was already subject to a suspended sentence for drug dealing, was found by police in a friend's house shortly after the raid with the stolen property with him.
He claimed he had nothing to do with the burglary and had bought them in good faith for £60 from a friend.
Donnelly, aged 26, of Tamworth Close, Ogwell, Newton Abbot, admitted handling stolen goods and was remanded in custody pending a probation pre-sentence report by Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, at Exeter Crown Court.
Donnelly had to be restrained by seen security officers in the dock after he launched himself at the glass screen and shouted obscenities at the Judge.
He grabbed the microphone inside the dock and carried out shouting into it as he was curled up in a ball resisting attempts to remove him to the cells.
He suffers from an anti social disorder which makes him become unstable when in enclosed spaces with other people.
The Judge warned him he was minded to activate a 16 month suspended sentence and add on a further sentence for this offence.
He said:"This is far more serious than a tidying up exercise. He was subject to a suspended sentence and had stolen property which was plainly from a private house and included items of obvious value."
Miss Janice Eagles, prosecuting, said all the property belonged to the late Mr Vickery and was stolen in a burglary at his empty home at Thame House, Newton Abbot on Boxing Day evening last year.
She said:"Whoever carried out the burglary set fire to the house and caused significant damage. The defendant was arrested two days later in connection with thefts from motor vehicles.
"His home was searched and police recovered the items which included war and police medals, binoculars, and an Omega Seamaster watch. The defendant was known to be at a house nearby on the evening of the burglary."
Miss Anne Bellchambers, defending, said Donnelly was arrested for stealing from cars over Christmas time but this offence had not been dealt with at the same time because police inquiries were continuing.
She said he denied playing any part in the burglary and added :"He accepts he had things he should not had."
She said the Judge should have a pre sentence report from the probation service before activating the earlier suspended sentence.
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