Thief struck at funeral

A HEARTLESS thief who stole jewellery from his girlfriend’s grandmother at her husband’s Oldham funeral sold the haul for £525 - and bought his partner a £59 engagement ring, a court heard.

Cannabis addict Ryan Shaw (19) had been invited to the service for Lorraine Jennings’ husband and helped himself to the sentimental rings from the grieving victim’s bedroom.

Two days after he left, Mrs Jennings (62) realised a gold ring had gone, then realised more jewellery was missing

Burnley Crown Court was told Shaw sold the property at a jewellers in Rawtenstall within an hour of the theft.

Shaw, who needed money for drugs, struck during a “catalogue” of crime, which also saw him raid five houses in Rossendale.

The defendant, from Bacup, is now behind bars for 30 months, after admitting the burglaries, fraud and handling stolen goods.

Passing sentence, Judge Jonathan Gibson said: “Quite plainly, that was, as described by the victim, the lowest of the low.”