A taxi driver on a shift in Tenby has been told by magistrates this week that he demonstrated a breach of trust for someone in his profession after he attempted to sell a gold watch online worth £390 that he found left in the backseat of his vehicle by a passenger.

Thirty-four-year-old Mark Ian Powell, of Jameston, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a Cloggau gold wrist watch on September 15 of last year, when he appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that a female passenger reported that her watch must have fallen off in the taxi she had been in and been left in the backseat of the vehicle.

“Mr. Powell who was the next driver to take over taxi duties for this vehicle, must have found the watch and instead of handing it into the firm’s control, he kept it.

“He attempted to give it to his wife as a gift but she didn’t like it, so he then tried to sell it on eBay to make some money off it.

“The complainant saw the item for sale online and recognised it, then got a family member to contact the seller and once they got Mr. Powell’s details, they passed them onto the police.

“Initially Mr. Powell denied the offence and said that he had bought the watch legitimately himself and that it was just a coincidence.

“This case is aggravated as it is a breach of trust from someone in his position. Quite often things are left in the back of a taxi by mistake - but customers don’t expect the drivers to pocket such items for themselves,” added Mr. Pritchard-Jones.

Defence solicitor Mike Kelleher said that his client had made a ‘huge mistake’ by not handing the valuable item in and taking it home.

“This has been hanging over his head for some time and caused him some considerable grief. The watch has been returned unharmed. He has pleaded guilty to the matter which is made rather more serious by the breach of trust aspect,” he added.

Magistrates handed Mr. Powell a 12 month community order, to include 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and an £85 victim surcharge.