MEASURING just a couple of inches across, it is hard to believe such a small item could soon be the subject of international interest.

But the Titanic watch which was at the centre of a high-profile court case is set to hit the headlines again when it goes under the hammer next year.

The Benson silver pocket watch came to prominence earlier this year when a Hampshire jeweller was convicted of conning its Southampton owner.

Kim John Webb, 41, was fined £2,500 after a jury found him guilty of cheating Lela Hughes, 68, out of the watch worth at least £20,000.

When she had taken the watch to Webb to be valued at his shop, VJ Bartlett Jewellers in Middle Street, Inner Avenue, Southampton, he told her it was only worth £15 scrap but a sister watch went at auction earlier this year for £20,000.

Experts are predicting that when the watch comes to auction at the British Titanic Society convention in Southampton next April it could fetch an even higher price.

Andrew Aldridge, of the auctioneers running the event - Henry Aldridge and Son in Devizes - said: "Not only has it got a marvellous history but now there is a marvellous story to go with it.

"There has been massive interest because you have the interest with the previous watch and couple that with the publicity this watch has had and the sky is the limit. Who knows what it will go for. The clients we are talking about are very rich men."

Webb's crime only came to light when a disgusted colleague told police that he had bragged about it being a Titanic watch just minutes after Mrs Hughes had left the shop.

During the case at Southampton Crown Court in September Webb, of Hope Road, West End, admitted removing the engraving of the date of the sinking of the ill-fated liner.

The watch was also inscribed with the name of the Countess of Rothes, who presented the watch, and the initials AC for Albert Crawford, the Titanic crewman who helped her escape to a lifeboat.

The watch was left to Mrs Hughes by a good friend who lived with Alfred Crawford. She has decided to sell the timepiece and has given it to Henry Aldridge and Son to include in their auction at the Hilton Hotel on April 14.

The watch will be on public view at Aldridge's shop, in Wine Street, Devizes, Wiltshire, next week: 12-4pm Monday, 12-6.30pm Tuesday and 12-5.30pm Wednesday.

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