Two men who broke into a Wigan chippy and the home above it on the day of the owner's funeral have been jailed for 18 months each. Craig Forshaw, 51, of Breccia Gardens, St Helens, and Lee Edwards, 52, of The Green, Norley Hall, Wigan, were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, September 25.
The pair targeted the Cross Keys Chippy in Hindley on June 26, the day of Brian Warburton's funeral. Warburton, a well-known member of the community, ran the chippy with his partner Denise before his death in May while waiting for a lung transplant. The burglars ransacked the upstairs home, taking £5,000, morphine, and 10 old mobile phones containing images of Brian and his family, as well as photos of Denise's son, a soldier killed on duty.
Partner describes trauma of the break-in
Denise said the men chose the one day they knew the family would be away. She described the home as their sanctuary and said the burglars walked through rooms where Brian had spent his final days. “His funeral should have been one of the most meaningful and sacred days of our lives. Instead, because of their actions, it became one of the most traumatic,” she said.
She added that the stolen phones held photographs, videos, recordings and memories of her son, who was also her only child. “They did not just take things. They took memories. They took security. They took peace. And, for me, they took pieces of the two people I loved most. That is something I will never be able to replace.”
Police highlight impact and drop in burglaries
Constable Richard Kelsall, of Wigan’s neighbourhood crime team, called the act “despicable” and said the family’s memories were now tarnished forever. He noted that strong CCTV and witness statements helped bring the pair to justice.
Kelsall also said Wigan has seen a 35% reduction in burglaries across the district over the past year, and that teams will continue to support affected communities.
