The victims of a £70,000 jewellery theft found one of their high-value rings on the finger of an Edinburgh jeweller after taking it upon themselves to trace the stolen items.

The jewellery was stolen from a safe at Lochiehead House in Auchtermuchty, Fife, between July 25 and 28 in 2014.

In December that year, a different jeweller in Edinburgh contacted police to say he believed some jewellery he had recently purchased may be stolen goods.

He had bought the items from Brian Richardson, 27, after the thief walked into Joseph Bonnar Jewellers on Thistle Street, selling a pair of opal earrings, a necklace and two aquamarine earrings for £1400.

Richardson carried out the transaction in full view of CCTV and even gave his real name and address to the jeweller for administration purposes.

Police traced the jewellery to the house theft in Auchtermuchty and informed the victims of the discovery.

The victims decided to visit other jewellers in Edinburgh to see if they recognised any items for sale.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard they went into James Ness and Sons on Queensferry Street.

Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told the court: "They told staff about the break-in and described the items and staff immediately went quiet.

"The proprietor then entered wearing one of the rings that was missing. He denied having any of the stolen goods but the owners saw a pair of earrings in a cabinet that they believed were theirs. Police were able to obtain the items."

The discovery was revealed at the court hearing of Richardson, of Main Street, Crosshil, Fife, and accomplice Mark McGrorty, 38, of Kildownie Crescent, Ballingry, Fife.

The men each admitted a charge of resetting jewellery that had been dishonestly appropriated by theft.

Ms Robertson said: "On August 27, 2014, accused McGrorty had attended (James Ness and Sons) and was paid £4000 via bank transfer for a yellow diamond ring.

"In total the items taken were valued at as much as £70,000 for insurance purposes. There is a high value of jewellery still outstanding as a result of this.

"The Crown calls on the accused to disclose where they are or who is responsible for the break-in for further investigation."

McGrorty and Richardson both face jail terms after admitting selling jewellery taken in the raid of the £2m country house.

Christopher Sneddon, defending, said: "The retail value of the items Mr Richardson reset was approximately three times what he received for them."

Sheriff Alistair Carmichael deferred sentence until next month for social work background reports and released the pair on bail in the meantime.

Download: The STV News app is Scotland's favourite and is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from Google Play. Download it today and continue to enjoy STV News wherever you are.