Drug addict jailed for stealing elderly woman's wedding ring
A drug addict who stole the wedding ring from the finger of an 87-year-old woman with cancer has been jailed for 14 years.
Steven Kerr, 35, broke into his neighbour Nellie Holliday's home in the early hours of the morning when she was in bed and grabbed her ring and a gold chain from around her neck.
Holliday, who is a widow, was left "absolutely terrified" by the robbery and was heard screaming as she called for help.
Kerr was jailed for a total of 14 years at York crown court today for a number of offences.
Judge Stephen Ashurst described the robbery as "cowardly".
He said: "That lady was absolutely terrified … The impact was very great indeed. Mrs Holliday was absolutely distraught.
"She was still physically shaking at the time a police officer arrived to speak to her."
The judge said such crimes against elderly, vulnerable victims living alone were considered "particularly despicable".
Kerr lived two houses away from Holliday in Barlby, North Yorkshire, and had done some gardening for her a few months before the robbery in March last year.
Burglars steal bridal dress, rings - and food
But the theft of the couple's gold wedding bands and her dress - a present from her mother valued at about $800 - upset Ms Kausari most.
"They trashed everything. They've chucked everything all over the rooms," she said. "They've taken our wedding rings, they've taken my engagement ring. We can't afford to get married now because we have to replace everything. You only get married once and you want it to be special. It sucks, everything is gone. I can't afford a new dress."
The couple, who live with Mr Mohammed's mother in the Housing New Zealand property, were not insured. They now face the cost of replacing what was taken.
"They've taken all our meat and our veges. We'd only just bought them. We can't afford to replace the food till next week."
Ms Kausari was also disgusted with the police response to the burglary. She called 111 immediately and was transferred to the nearest crime squad. She said she was told the squad was too busy to come to the house on Sunday.
