A woman was awoken at 4am to find her masked ex-boyfriend in her bedroom before she claims he stole $7000 worth of her jewellery, a court has heard.
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James Laughton, 33, pleaded guilty to aggravated break and enter to commit a serious indictable offence - larceny, in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday.
Agreed facts tendered to court said Laughton and the woman had been in a brief relationship from September to November last year after meeting on a dating app.
In the early hours of December 2, the woman woke up in her Gwynneville home, after hearing her jewellery being moved around, to find a man going through her belongings.
He was wearing navy tracksuit pants, a hoodie jumper and medical masks.
She soon worked out it was her ex-boyfriend, Laughton, and she asked him what he was doing in her bedroom to which he replied, "I wanted to see you, but I'm scared".
The woman repeatedly asked why he was there and touching her belongings.
"I'm not. You won't believe me anyway," Laughton said.
When Laughton walked out of the room, the woman noticed he had a large bulge in the front of his pants and upon turning on her light, she noticed the items on her jewellery stand were missing.
The woman claimed Laughton stole her car key, four rings including an engagement ring, two necklaces and a bracelet, with a total value of almost $7000.
The woman's roommate was awoken by the noise and upon seeing the man she said "what the f**k is James doing here?" to which the ex-girlfriend replied, "he's stolen our stuff".
Once Laughton left the home, the women noticed he had stolen their house keys.
The ex-girlfriend tried to call Laughton but he did not answer while the roommate called police, who attended and took their statements.
Later that day, officers found Laughton in a car at Oakhurst with the car and house keys, a necklace, bracelet and one of the rings.
He claimed the woman left her belongings in his car.
Laughton's case was adjourned to May 28 in Wollongong District Court for sentencing proceedings.
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