Suspended sentence for Poppy appeal box thief

The box theft happened at the Earls Lodge retirement home in Failsworth last week

Officers from Greater Manchester Police's Failsworth and Hollinwood headquarters have expressed their disappointment at the punishment handed out to a man who stole a Poppy appeal box.

The box theft happened at the Earls Lodge retirement home in Failsworth last week.

Gregory Mullender, of Upper Brook Street, Manchester, was charged with theft after he entered the secure sheltered housing scheme for the over 55s and stole a poppy appeal charity box.

He was remanded to attend court yesterday (Monday) and Tameside Magistrates handed him a six-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

"Local officers are very disappointed with the court result," read a post on the GMP Failsworth and Hollinwood Facebook page.

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