A burglar who stole a digital projector worth almost £4,000 from a Black Country cinema has been jailed for six months.

Reiss Parchment, of no fixed abode, stole the projector from Walsall’s Showcase cinema in Bentley Mill Way. The 23-year-old then sold it on for £150, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday.

Mr Walter Bealby, prosecuting, said it was likely Parchment received help from others to steal the projector due to the heavy weight of the equipment.

He said that around the time the burglary happened two men were spotted acting suspiciously nearby.

The court heard the incident happened in April 2009 but Parchment was not charged with the burglary until earlier this year, when he was arrested in relation to other offences. Parchment was due to stand trial yesterday after initially denying the offence, but instead he changed his plea to guilty.

In mitigation for Parchment, Mr Benjamin Close said the item stolen was a £3,805 “supplementary projector” and had been sold on afterwards for £150.

He said that since the offence, Parchment had completed a college course in music production and had worked with youth charity The Prince’s Trust to pass on his skills to young people.

Mr Close added: “He has taken it upon himself to set up various initiatives.”

Judge Hilary Watson, sentencing Parchment to six months in prison, said: “It was a specialist piece of equipment. It was vital to the operation of the Showcase cinema.”

She said it was believed the theft had been planned and Parchment had entered the building on at least two occasions to find out where the projector was kept and to steal it.