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| Hearse theft undertaker sentenced | Hearse theft undertaker sentenced |
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| An undertaker who stole the keys to a rival's hearse, leaving it stranded with a body inside, has been given a six-month suspended sentence. | An undertaker who stole the keys to a rival's hearse, leaving it stranded with a body inside, has been given a six-month suspended sentence. |
| David Wood took the keys from the Rolls Royce while mourners gathered for the funeral service in Middlesbrough. | David Wood took the keys from the Rolls Royce while mourners gathered for the funeral service in Middlesbrough. |
| Funeral director Joel Kerr had to hotwire the car so Patricia Thorburn's coffin could be taken to the cemetery. | Funeral director Joel Kerr had to hotwire the car so Patricia Thorburn's coffin could be taken to the cemetery. |
| Wood, 48, who admitted theft, believed Mr Kerr's firm had been poaching his customers, Teesside Crown Court heard. | Wood, 48, who admitted theft, believed Mr Kerr's firm had been poaching his customers, Teesside Crown Court heard. |
| The court was told how he stole the keys while the car was parked outside the town's Salvation Army citadel on 23 September last year. | The court was told how he stole the keys while the car was parked outside the town's Salvation Army citadel on 23 September last year. |
| As friends and family waited for the service, a queue of mourners for the next funeral formed outside. | |
| Another firm of undertakers offered a replacement car, but Mrs Thorburn had wanted her final journey to the cemetery to be in the vintage Phantom VI Rolls Royce. | Another firm of undertakers offered a replacement car, but Mrs Thorburn had wanted her final journey to the cemetery to be in the vintage Phantom VI Rolls Royce. |
| The car needed costly repairs and the keys were never found | |
| The stranded vehicle was too heavy to push and Mr Kerr was forced to rip out the dashboard and hot-wire the engine. | The stranded vehicle was too heavy to push and Mr Kerr was forced to rip out the dashboard and hot-wire the engine. |
| Costly repairs were needed to the car, and the keys which Wood threw away as he fled, have never been found. | |
| Recorder James Goss QC said: "One thing as supposedly civilised human beings we hope to expect is that when death occurs it will be treated with respect. | |
| "Sadly you treated the death in this case and the funeral that was taking place with disrespect." | |
| The court was told that Wood has since admitted his behaviour had been "stupid, pathetic and childish". | |
| Peter Makepeace, defending, said there had also been a serious effect on his business since the case was reported. | |
| He said: "I express on Mr Wood's behalf his profound apology to Mr Kerr and to his staff, and even more particularly to the family of the deceased." | |
| In addition to the suspended sentence, Wood, of Bridge Court, Middlesbrough, was ordered to pay £250 costs. | In addition to the suspended sentence, Wood, of Bridge Court, Middlesbrough, was ordered to pay £250 costs. |