A RECENTLY bereaved family was devastated to discover burglars had broken into their home and stolen items belonging to their deceased mother before they could even face going through her property.

Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday Michael Moran had left his home locked and secure in Nettleton Road, Huddersfield on November 19 last year but was then alerted by neighbours about intruders who turned out to come from Bradford.

He got home to discover the burglars had used screwdrivers to force their way in, shattering glass in a door and then made an untidy search of the premises, stealing treasured jewellery items belonging to his late wife Beverley, including her wedding ring.

One neighbour, who spotted the smashed door, had gone to investigate as one of the burglars John Lee Elliott was leaving with a bag over his shoulder followed by a second man Daniel Peter Mitchell who shouted at him in a threatening way.

Robert Stevenson, prosecuting, said one of the burglars Elliott had sent a text to his accomplice Mitchell earlier that morning asking if he wanted to commit a burglary and he replied he was up for it.

After the raid they were seen by another neighbour and a postman heading for a car dropping items on the way, stopping to pick up some but not others. They took the car registration and collected items dropped, which included Mrs Moran’s passport.

They were traced through the car registration because Mitchell’s mother was the registered keeper.

Elliott was caught fleeing a caravan on her driveway.

Mitchell, who was on licence for burglary at the time got away but was caught later and some of the property was recovered, including a watch belonging to Mr Moran.

When Mitchell was searched at the police station a mobile phone was found hidden up his bottom.

Jailing the burglars Judge Penelope Belcher said the effect on the victim’s family had been traumatic.

Mr Moran came home to find among valuable jewellery taken was his wife’s wedding ring. They also included items which would have passed down the family.

She said while the burglars would not know of the recent bereavement it had added greatly to the distress of the family.

Mr Moran described in a victim personal statement how they had not felt able by then to go through his wife’s belongings and found it particularly upsetting the first people to do so were burglars.

She said he now felt he wanted to move away from the property having lived there 25 years because the intruders had ruined the good memories he had there.

Mitchell, 35 of Sunshine Court, Woodside, admitted burglary and conveying an article into custody. He also asked for nine other offences in Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Liversedge to be taken into consideration and was jailed for a total of 70 months.

Elliott, 35 of Reevey Road West, Buttershaw, admitted burglary and was jailed for 49 months.

Andrew Walker, for Mitchell, said he had kept the phone when he got to custody because at the time his own partner was gravely ill and he wanted to keep in touch. She had since died and he was allowed to attend her funeral by prison authorities and was aware of the trauma involved.

Alasdair Campbell, for Elliott, said the offence was committed when he went back on drugs.