Widow who had cherished jewels stolen gets rings back

Eight rings have been returned to Susan Shepherd

A widow who had her jewellery stolen has had some of the missing rings returned.

Last month, Susan Shepherd, 75, described her devastation at losing her life's collection, including her late husband Stan's wedding ring.

She spoke out after the thief who had broken into her Aberdeen home was jailed for three years.

It is understood information about the location of some of the items was passed to police after Susan spoke to BBC Scotland News.

Susan Shepherd was left devastated by the break-in

Officers have now been able to reunite her with eight rings.

The most cherished items were not among those returned but Susan said she was "grateful" to get some belongings back.

The thefts happened in the Bucksburn area of Aberdeen in August last year while she away from home.

Gordon Martin, 56, was jailed for three years at Peterhead Sheriff Court on 16 April after he admitted the theft of jewellery and a jewellery box as well as other personal belongings.

The total estimated value was several thousand pounds.

Susan described her experience in a victim impact statement read to the court.

Sheriff Annella Cowan said the crime victim had taken the opportunity to describe how it had harmed her mental health.

"I cannot explain how disturbed I am by this despicable crime," her statement said. "I will never recover from this."

The sheriff described her words as "elegant and eloquent".

Stan Shepherd took early retirement after heart surgery and devoted his days to his wife, who had gone back to work full-time.

After Stan's death in 2010, Susan carefully stored away precious mementos from their 40 years of marriage - Stan's wedding band, her own wedding and engagement rings, even a pair of his shoes.

These were among the items Susan found missing after the robbery.

Susan found out about the break-in when a neighbour contacted her about a smashed door. Relatives then discovered the house had been ransacked.

"It was unbelievable, it just devastated me," she told BBC Scotland News.

"My late husband's ashes were disturbed, that just broke my heart."

Stan Shepherd died in 2010

Susan said she was shocked when police told her they had recovered some of the rings.

"I am saddened that my more sentimental ones were not among them," she said.

"I am so grateful to everyone who was involved in the recovery of some of my possessions."

She added: "If anyone out there is wearing rings with inscriptions that don't belong to them, please hand them in.

"I live in hope they turn up someday."

Sgt Donald Lyon, of Police Scotland, said: "We understand how devastating if can be to have your home broken into.

"We are pleased the jewellery has been returned to its rightful owner."

In 2023-24, housebreakings accounted for 8% of crimes of dishonesty in Scotland, with 9,033 recorded.