A 26-year-old Southgate man caught trying to sell a unique stolen guitar was ordered to serve 140-hours community service by a crown court judge.

Recorder Robin Hay told Christopher Bell, of Dorchester Court: "You are very luckly not to go to prison. Working for the community is a direct alternative to custody and not an easy option.''

The Warwick Pro-one five string bass known as a Dolphin guitar, worth nearly £4,000 and probably the only one in Europe, was among items which went missing during a burglary on the Walthamstow home of session musician Patrick Phillips in February this year.

Mr Phillips, who has played for Vanessa Mae and Dolly Parton among others, told the court another `thumb bass' guitar and a Pentax camera also went missing.

While he was out of the country a friend, Cameron Vagges, spotted the Dolphin guitar advertised for sale in the columns of Loot.

He contacted police and a meeting was arranged in Ruislip, where Bell turned up.

He was arrested with the guitar for which he was asking £1,300 and the missing camera was found in his car.

The court sitting at Isleworth, west London, on Thursday, was told Hay had pawned the other guitar for £200 and it was later recovered by police.

Bell admitted two counts of handling stolen goods. He was also ordered to pay £900 costs.

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