He's not miserable now... Johnny Marr’s stolen guitar returned 10 years on

Former Smiths star Johnny Marr says he is "ecstatic" to be reunited with his guitar 10 years after it was stolen.

The £30,000 guitar was discovered in a Smiths fan's north London home after he stole it from a gig at the Scala nightclub in King's Cross.

Stephen White, 38, said he was "disgusted" with himself for taking the instrument at the Johnny Marr and the Healers gig in 2000.

The carer, from Enfield, stole the cherry red 1964 Gibson SG when he went backstage and noticed the guitar was unattended.

It was a "spur of the moment decision" and he walked out through a fire escape and took the guitar home in a taxi.

White kept the Gibson in his home — despite Marr's offer of a reward for its return — and sometimes played it.

Highbury magistrates heard he took it to "Tin Pan Alley" guitar shops in Denmark Street, Bloomsbury, to have it repaired after he ­accidentally stood on it.

Police later received a tip-off leading to the guitar's recovery and White's arrest.

White was sentenced to 200 hours' community service last week. At the hearing he apologised, saying: "I'm disgusted with the whole thing. There's a victim here. I can't reconcile myself with the behaviour of that night."

White, who has no previous convictions, had been prescribed antidepressant Seroxat at the time of the theft.

This combined with alcohol had lessened his inhibitions. His counsel, Oliver Dean, said he wanted to write and apologise to Marr.

Pc Christopher Swain said Marr was "ecstatic" at the guitar's return and bore no malice towards White.

"The guitar did have a high sentimental value to him. Initially he thought he had been targeted by a professional thief but when the details came to light he said he didn't want the matter to go further."

A spokesman for Marr, who is in New Zealand on tour with his band The Cribs, said: "He is obviously very happy to have his guitar returned."

Prosecutor Dorothy Thomas said the guitar would normally be worth around £6,000, but had an estimated value of £30,000 due to its link with Marr.