After four years as a Sunseeker employee, heling to build luxury powerboats in Poole, Dorset, James Light began collecting items to build his own dream boat. Seven years later he got caught and lost his job. Yesterday he pleaded guilty at Bournemouth Crown court and was given a suspended sentence plus 200 hours’ community service.

Police, who raided his lock-up garage found some 700 boat parts worth £55,000 – mostly electronics. Detectives were at a loss to explain how Light had sneaked all the parts – including a four-foot radar pole and a widescreen TV – through security at the firm’s premises.