Sailor stole commando watches to sell on ebay

A ROYAL NAVY sailor has been jailed for stealing high-tech watches belonging to Special Boat Service (SBS) commandos to sell on ebay.

Able Seaman Joshua Cheetham stole a series of the high-specification timepieces, which operate underwater at depths of 300m, while working as a storeman on HMS Kent.

A court martial heard that the 26-year-old had racked up debts after “living outside his means” and resorted to selling the CWC SBS watches online for £300 to £500 each.

The dive watches are key pieces of kit for specialist UK forces and were described on the auction site as “built for elite units of the British Forces, the Royal Marines and SBS”.

The hearing was told that Cheetham made £1,642 by selling six watches looted from stores on the Type-23 frigate, based in Portsmouth.

He was caught out in February last year when ebay buyers contacted the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to check the validity of the watches. When the sailor’s home was searched, officers also discovered Royal Navy-owned batteries as well as another watch.

Cheetham, a logistician, admitted two counts of theft over a six-month period and one of fraud.

The court heard he had been selling the watches in a bid to pay off his overdraft. He has now been dismissed and sentenced to military prison for three months by a board at Bulford Military Court, Wilts.

Maj James Eveleigh, prosecuting, told the hearing that Cheetham had “abused his position of trust” as it was part of his job as a storeman to buy the watches for the Navy.

Cheetham’s lawyer, Helen Easterbrook, said he had begun overspending and resorted to crime in a bid to fight his debts. A Royal Navy seaman salary is approximately £25,970 per year.

Sentencing him, Judge Robert Hill said: “You had a position of trust, of responsibility which you have abused.”

Cheetham was dismissed from the Navy and must also pay compensation of £1,367.70. He must serve 60 days of his custodial sentence.