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Crem sentence ‘is not enough’

Sue Carr
19/12/2007

A HEROIN addict who traded in 500 crematorium memorial plaques stolen from a Tameside cemetery will spend Christmas behind bars.

Paul William Herrick, 41, of Rydal Walk, Stalybridge was jailed for handling stolen goods after the plaques — valued at around £146,500 — were taken from Dukinfield Crematorium.

Herrick tried to sell them to a scrapyard for cash.

He was caught when the manager became suspicious and called police.

Staff at SIM’s scrapyard, near to the crematorium, said Herrick would call there at least once a week offering to sell copper.

Herrick was arrested for the thefts, which took place between 10 and 13 August, and pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods.

He appeared before Manchester Crown Court on Thursday and was sentenced to a year in prison.

Dukinfield councillor John Taylor said: "I don’t think 12 months was enough. I have no knowledge of his past record, so it could have been his first offence.

"This person caused lots of heartache and grief. He committed an awful crime, one of the lowest you could commit, I guess nothing short of grave robbing.

"The courts have to send out a clear message about these sorts of crimes and the victims need to see that the punishment fits the crime. Many people will still be suffering from his crime and I saw the faces of many of them when visiting the cemetery the days after his theft of the plaques.

"I also spoke to many people who had suffered."

Detective Constable Mike Whelan, of Tameside CID, said: "The final count of stolen plaques was more than 400.

"This crime was a callous act that showed scant regard for the grief and upset suffered by the extended families of those remembered, or indeed society, its values and just plain common decency."