A GARDENER stole dozens of family photos from a house where he worked.

Michael Harvey, 40, of Marriotts Lane, Haddenham, was found guilty on Wednesday of last week of five burglaries between September, 1993 and August, 2000 by a jury at Aylesbury Crown Court.

The court heard how Harvey worked at Springfield Farm, Butlers Cross, up until last summer. He was arrested on September 3 and photographs were found in albums in his bedroom.

He had taken pictures belonging to four families. Harvey claimed he had been given them or found them in a skip on the land but prosecutor Michael Skelley said the pictures had been stolen without the owners realising they were missing.

Mr Skelley said the photographs belonged to owners and tenants of Springfield Farm and were kept in bedrooms and the outhouse where Harvey had no permission to go.

When owners were contacted, they denied the pictures had been thrown away, except a few of the farm house and gardens which Harvey was given for a portfolio of his work.

Four burglaries were at Springfield Farm, the other at a neighbouring property. A sixth charge alleging burglary at a house in Worminghall Road, Ickford, was left to lie on file.

Judge David Jack adjourned sentencing for three weeks for reports after John Riley, defending, said that Harvey was the sole carer for his mother who had a heart condition and was in her 70s.

Harvey was granted conditional bail.