Stolen phone had dad's last messages from dead son

A 24-year-old Shropshire woman who stole a mobile phone containing a man's final text messages from his dead son has been jailed for 18 months at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

Katie Holloway, of Winifred's Drive, Donnington, had previously admitted two burglaries on July 21 and 27 this year and asked for two further incidents, a theft from a house on March 5 and a burglary on July 20, to be taken into account.

She was sentenced to 18 months in prison on each burglary charge, to run concurrently.

The court heard the first burglary took place at a home in Winifred's Drive overnight on July 21 with Holloway gaining access through a small kitchen window and a number of items, including a mobile phone, laptop, loose change and a make-up bag taken.

Addicted

Mr Stephen Bacon, prosecuting, said the second burglary took place at a home in Gibbons Road, Trench.

He said: "On July 27 the victim went to bed at 12.30am. He left a vent window in his living room open and discovered he had been burgled at 8.30am. The items taken were a laptop, two mobile phones and a wallet."

The court was told one of the phones had text messages on it from the victim's late son.

Mr Peter Cooper, for Holloway, said she was addicted to drugs at the time of the offences and was extremely sorry for what she had done, especially taking the phone.

He said: "It is clear that she was deeply troubled when she heard what the position was. Mobile phones are not thought of as sentimental items but of course they are now due to photos and, in this case, texts.

"She did all that she could to co-operate in the return of that mobile phone."

Judge Robin Onions said: "Like many burglars, they know not what they take. She has unwittingly removed something that cannot be recovered."

He said the courts had been lenient, but as this was Holloway's 15th court appearance he had no option but to send her to prison.

By Rhea Parsons