JAILED: Wolverhampton drug addict who sold stolen keepsakes from children's graves
A drug addict who sold stolen keepsakes from the graves of children in Wolverhampton has been locked up for six months.
Dennis Palmer sold ornamental angels, teddy bears and pixies taken from graves at Bushbury Crematorium.
The items were stolen from the resting places of children who died as young as five days old.
Palmer, 47 of Victoria Road, Park Village, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation but not guilty to nine counts of theft, saying he did not steal the ornaments himself, he simply sold them on.
However, he was found guilty at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court of the nine charges on the grounds it was a joint enterprise and he was still involved in depriving grieving families of their items.
District Judge Shoman Khan said: "These offences are shocking, devastating and absolutely terrible.
"I can't be sure it was you who took these items but I can be sure you were involved in what appears to me to be something of a joint operation. If I could have been sure it was you who had taken these items you would be looking at a much longer sentence."
Palmer claimed he sold the items on for a man who approached him in the street peddling 'garden ornaments'. He said he knew the man – although not by name – and sold them on to pay for his drug habit. He did not question their origin in case he found out they were stolen.
Palmer was arrested after a woman who bought the items from him recognised them in a police Facebook appeal and reported him. Mr Philip Rowlands, prosecuting, said: "These items were all of huge sentimental value to the families of those whose grave they were taken from.
"The defendant told people who bought them that they were given to him as payment for gardening work he had done.
"He has given a variety of different stories. Whether he was the person who went on to the graves and stole the items or not, he is guilty of theft because he has sold these items on."
Defence solicitor Mandeep Bassi said: "My client was not seen stealing, he simply sold some items on to make a few pounds."
Palmer was also made to pay an £80 surcharge.
