A THIEF who stole a poppy collection tin in Frodsham on Armistice Day has been jailed for eight months.
Bradley Higham, 34, swiped the Royal British Legion charity box from Barclays Bank in Main Street on November 11 last year while the town stood in silence to honour our fallen soldiers.
The sickening theft came three days after Higham had stolen cash from the Travelodge in Mickle Trafford.
Higham, formerly of Poplars Avenue in Warrington, also stole charity boxes from a chip shop in Padgate on November 6 and a Spar store in Thelwall the following day.
He was arrested by police at a house in Latchford, Warrington, on November 17 and charged with four counts of theft, which he pleaded guilty to at an earlier hearing.
Higham, who was captured on CCTV, was sentenced at Warrington Crown Court on Monday.
Speaking after the sentencing, Chief Inspector Jon Ward described the offences as ‘despicable’ and welcomed the decision to jail Higham.
He said: “The nature of this man’s crimes generated a sense of shock and anger within the community.
“He clearly holds no regard or respect for those who have given their lives in conflict both past and present, and it was this sense of resentment that caused the community to react and assist in the police investigation to track Higham down and bring him to justice quickly.
“He will now have time to reflect on his behaviour behind bars where we can only hope that the consequences of his actions will be realised.”
Visit www.chesterchronicle.co. uk to see a video interview with Chief Inspector Jon Ward.
