A SOUTH Petherton man accused of stealing thousands of pounds worth of jewellery that was destined for delivery to a Yeovil jewellers shop denied the offence when he appeared in court.

Scott Millard was working for delivery firm Yodel as a driver when three containers worth of goods were due for delivery to H. Samuels in Yeovil, however only two arrived and the third went missing.

The 29-year-old defendant, of Crown Lane, pleaded not guilty to a charge that on June 8 at Yeovil he sold a blue plastic tub containing 95 pieces of jewellery worth £7,849.24 belonging to Signet UK.

Prosecutor Julyan Stephens told Somerset Magistrates, sitting at Yeovil, that Millard had been working for Yodel as an agency delivery driver when the offence was alleged to have been committed.

Jeffrey Bannister, defending, said his client denied stealing anything and the magistrates refused to accept the case and ordered Millard to be sent to Taunton Crown Court for trial.

They adjourned the matter until December 4 when the defendant must attend a pre trial hearing at Taunton and in the meantime he was released on unconditional bail.