Pair charged with distraction burglary whilst elderly pensioner was dying upstairs

Steven Morris, 45 and Kelly Cassidy, 42, both of Southfield Street, Nelson, have both now been charged with burglary. Morris is also charged with a separate attempted burglary on the same day.

Police say the crime took place at around 3am on Friday, October 16, at a home in Walter Street, Brierfield, when an elderly man went into the street, leaving the door open, in search of help for his wife.

A man and woman were reported to have entered the property to help the man, offering to telephone for an ambulance, while the pensioner, who is in his 80s, went upstairs to sit with his wife, who died later that day.

After the incident a purse and a mobile phone were found to be missing and later reported stolen.

Following enquiries and an appeal to the public, detectives have arrested two people on suspicion of burglary.

Steven Morris, 45 and Kelly Cassidy, 42, are due to appear before Blackburn Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday, October 28).

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