Thief stole from roadside tribute

A thief who stole flowers left where Oldham teenager Jack Essex was fatally hit by a lorry in Manchester has been given a community order and ordered to pay compensation.

Riyad Hantouli (37) told a taxi driver he had brought the flowers from his brother’s funeral, but had stolen the biggest bunches of flowers from tributes left to former Saddleworth School pupil Jack, who died in hospital.

Jack’s partner Tony Cooper noticed items were missing when he visited the site and saw a man trawling through the flowers on CCTV. He contacted police and Hantouli, who lives in the city centre, was identified.

Manchester Magistrates’ Court imposed an eight-week curfew between 7am and 7pm and ordered Hantouli to pay court costs of £245. He must also pay £100 compensation to Mr Cooper.