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Man stole jewellery from 'private living quarters' in Mount Stewart

Mount Stewart
Mount Stewart Mount Stewart

A WEST Belfast man was remanded into custody for the "audacious" theft of tens of thousands of pounds worth of jewellery from Mount Stewart.

Downpatrick Crown Court was shown CCTV footage of 61 year-old Carlo Holmes, from Cupar Street, walking around private areas of the stately home both before and after stealing jewellery from the bedroom of Lady Rose Lauritzen.

Holmes targeted the private dwelling area of Lady Lauritzen, who is in her 70s and who has spent most of her life at Mount Stewart, on May 17 last year. The items - which included rings, earrings and a brooch - were stolen from a jewellery roll.

Prosecutor Sam Magee said jewellery was worth around £35,000, adding nothing that was stolen that day has ever been recovered or traced.

Despite his initial denials, Holmes admitted a single charge of burglary at the National Trust property.

Holmes targeted the private dwelling area of the 19th century property on the banks of Strangford Lough on the afternoon of Sunday May 17 last year. The historic house, near Greyabbey, had recently re-opened to the public following renovation work.

Mr Magee said that rather that simply visit Mount Stewart on the afternoon in question, Holmes "embarked on an audacious, carefully planned and thoroughly dishonest venture to burgle the private residence of Lady Lauritzen"

After entering the premises via the reception area, Holmes - dressed in a heavy poacher's-style coat - was captured on CCTV in various areas of the house, including an education centre.

He is then captured on the footage walking along a private corridor that leads to Lady Lauritzen's bedroom. Six minutes later, he is seen walking back along the same corridor and eventually coming back to the main reception.

Mr Magee said that the CCTV shows Holmes both trying to "blend in" in the visitors centre prior to the theft, and also shows him walking away from the bedroom with the pockets of his coat "bulging" with the items he has just stolen.

Telling the court it was clear that Holmes was aware of the location of the key to unlock the bedroom, Mr Magee said it indicated that Holmes was working with another person.

The prosecutor added that the incident was a "brazen, highly professionally planned burglary of a stately home" during which the privacy of a woman in her 70s was invaded.

Holmes was arrested at Belfast International Airport on May 31 and had £1,685 in cash. When his home was searched, a further £3,700 was located.

When he was interviewed, Holmes admitted he had visited Mount Stewart but denied stealing the jewellery.

It also emerged during yesterday's hearing that Holmes has 112 previous convictions and worked to a modus operandi whereby he wore a big coat to steal items. In the past, Holmes has targeted the Culloden Hotel in Cultra and the Enniskillings Museum in Co Fermanagh.

Judge Stephen Fowler remanded Holmes into custody ahead of plea and sentencing next week/