Thieves sell £500,000 Henry Moore sculpture as scrap for just £46 But John Carmichael, prosecuting, said the scrap metal company came forward to return the sculpture after the crime, which took place in July, featured on the BBC's Crimewatch. The foundation estimates it will cost around £13,000 to repair the statue. Hughes, a former soldier, and Parker, both from Coltsfield, Essex, pleaded guilty to stealing the Sundial sculpture and the plinth and were jailed for 12 months. Judge Marie Catterson told them: "The value of these items is priceless as they are irreplaceable. The damage to the work of art sitting on the plinth and the measures which are needed to improve security come to a total of £13,000. The evidence states you sold the Sundial for £46, you sold both pieces for scrap metal for less than £200. This theft goes beyond the cost of money, you have not only stolen from the Foundation but you have also stolen from the public. You have damaged the credibility of the Henry Moore Foundation, affecting whether others choose to exhibit their work within the Foundation. She added: "I do not doubt you did not understood the value not only metal - whether it be in terms of art or in terms of money. It wasn't specialist theft, you weren't selling the piece on to an illicit dealer but you have still planned it. Charles Snelling, defending Parker, said: "The theft was never a calculated decision, Mr Parker didn't know the value of the pieces he had stolen. He was going through a difficult period of time due to being out of work, his partner has recently miscarried and it has hit him hard. But the judge responded: "You're not seriously suggesting that his partner's miscarriage is the reason for the theft?" Carlo Coccaro, mitigating for Hughes, said his girlfriend was pregnant and due on December 28th and custody would dramatically affect his family life. Hughes, who served with the Royal Tank regiment between 2006 and 2009, was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Parker was also given 12 months custody, to be served in a young offenders institute. Parker waved to his crying mother as he was sent down. Hughes looked at the floor and did not look up to his pregnant girlfriend. The Henry Moore Foundation has vowed to tighten up their security at an extra cost.