An antiques thief who stole a Tracey Emin etching and other priceless ‘treasures’ had been told he would not be prosecuted for taking the items, a court heard.

Former removals man Martin Bateman was jailed for 24 months last year for stealing items worth thousands of pounds while working for Oxford firm Luker Brothers.

On Thursday (March 16), Oxford Crown Court heard the 55-year-old had received a letter from DC Charlotte Oliver while under investigation for those other thefts. It said the police would take no further action on the allegation that he stole belongings worth £12,800 that Bruce Snider had placed in storage with Luker Bros in 2018.

READ MORE: Luker Bros removals man stole thousands of pounds' worth of antiques

The police were accused of ‘U-turning’ on that earlier decision, sending him a letter late last year informing him that he would be prosecuted for stealing from Mr Snider.

Defending, Kellie Enever said there was ‘no explanation’ for the authorities’ change of heart. “In my submission that is quite extraordinary,” she told Recorder John Bate-Williams.

Bateman’s lawyers could have asked a judge to throw out the charge on the grounds there had been an ‘abuse of process’, the court heard.

But the Tetsworth man, who has been released from prison on licence, had opted to plead guilty to the allegation - accepting that he had done wrong.

Ms Enever told Recorder Bate-Williams of her concern that her client could find himself being brought back to court every few months rather than all his offending being dealt with at once.

“The concern is [this]: does this continue for Mr Bateman? Are the police and the prosecution going to continue to come after Mr Bateman?” she said.

Oxford Mail: A 19th century silver plated and engraved hot water urn, one of the items stolen from Bruce Snider Picture: CPSA 19th century silver plated and engraved hot water urn, one of the items stolen from Bruce Snider Picture: CPS (Image: CPS)

Had the theft from Mr Snider been taken into account when Judge Maria Lamb sentenced the antiques thief last year he was unlikely to have received any longer than the two year jail term she imposed, it was argued.

Ms Enever said her client, who stole the antiques to help fund a gambling habit, had shown remorse for what he had done. A character reference from his partner described Bateman as a ‘caring and a good father’.

READ MORE: Police release pictures of paintings stolen by Martin Bateman

Prosecutor Alexandra Bull read from a victim impact statement penned by Mr Snider.

In it, he said: “This thief managed to strike at our heart in a way that is scarcely believable.”

He said he had ‘no desire to punish Mr Bateman further for his crime’ but that his ‘assistance’ in helping to recover their stolen items ‘would be most appreciated’.

Oxford Mail: A 2012 Tracey Emin signed limited edition etching stolen from Bruce Snider Picture: CPSA 2012 Tracey Emin signed limited edition etching stolen from Bruce Snider Picture: CPS (Image: CPS)

Bateman, of High Street, Tetsworth, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court earlier this year to theft.

The judge imposed 10 months’ imprisonment suspended for a year and a half and ordered he do 100 hours of unpaid work.