Thief who stole ring from dead priest avoids jail

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 18:38 · Archive

A man who stole a gold ring from a dead priest's hand and sold it has avoided a prison sentence.

Nicholas Mather, 34, stole an 18-carat gold priesthood ring from the body of Father Peter Crowther at a funeral home in Chorley, Lancashire, on 8 March. The ring had been inscribed in Latin when Fr Crowther was ordained in 1971, reading 'Tu Es Sac Erdos In Aeternum', meaning 'I am a priest for ever'. Fr Crowther's parents had bought it in Rome, and it was his dying wish to be buried with it. Worth between £3,000 and £3,500, the ring was sold to a pawnbroker and subsequently melted down, making it unrecoverable.

Mather worked at B Livesey Funeral Directors. He handed in his notice on 4 March following concerns about his conduct, and stole the ring four days later. An investigation also found he had stolen a Rolls-Royce key box ring from the firm. He was paid £1,370 for both items and spent it on a drug habit. Arrested on 22 April, he pleaded guilty to two counts of theft at Preston Magistrates' Court on Friday. He was given a community order, ordered to complete 300 hours unpaid work, and to pay £6,500 compensation. Magistrates said this was the worst theft case they had heard given its emotional impact.

Thief who stole ring from dead priest avoids jail — Image: Lancashire Telegraph

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How it is being reported

‘Despicable’ thief who stole ring from dead priest’s hand escapes jail termA "despicable” thief who stole a gold ring from a dead priest’s hand has walked free from court.Lancashire Telegraph · 16 Oct, 18:06
'Dying wish' Chorley thief stole a gold ring off the hand of a dead priest but walked free from Preston court‘Deeply upsetting ‘ Chorley thief stole a gold ring off the hand of a dead priest - but walked free from Preston Magistrates Court.Chorley Guardian · 16 Oct, 17:45

In this story: Nicholas Mather · Father Peter Crowther · B Livesey Funeral Directors · Chorley · Lancashire · Preston Magistrates' Court

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