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Crime & Court Caernarfon Crown Court

Burglar Jailed After Stealing Widow’s Precious Family Photo

A burglar who broke into an 82-year-old widow's home and stole her only photograph of her dead son has been jailed for three and a half years at Caernarfon Crown Court.

Burglar Jailed After Stealing Widow’s Precious Family Photo
Peter Jason Lee Image: North Wales Police

A 50-year-old burglar who forced his way into an 82-year-old widow’s rural Anglesey home and stole irreplaceable sentimental items has been jailed for three years and six months. ⚖️

Peter Jason Lee, of no fixed address, broke into the pensioner’s remote home on October 23, 2023, alongside accomplice Billie Jo Kane. The pair tore a window frame from its hinges during the break-in, injuring the elderly woman’s finger in the process.

Lee claimed to be “Incognito – drugs squad” when the victim answered her door, but she didn’t believe him. The burglars then took items including the only photograph the woman had of her son Michael, who died aged 12 and a half, with his late father.

During the terrifying ordeal, Lee sprayed bleach around the property and threatened to burn down the house. The pensioner’s phone was ripped from the wall, but she later found a spare handset to call police.

In a statement, the victim said: “The burglars had been vindictive to trash her house when she wasn’t resisting.”

Judge Her Honour Nicola Jones described the victim as “remarkable and resilient” and imposed an indefinite restraining order preventing Lee from contacting his victim or entering her village.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Griffith of North Wales Police said: “Lee’s imprisonment is the conclusion to an excellent investigation which has brought the defendants to justice for an awful crime which targeted a vulnerable elderly woman inside her own home. Lee and Kane callously stole sentimental items of such high value that were irreplaceable to the victim, which have sadly never been recovered.”

Kane, 27, of Ty Newydd caravan park, Llanbedrgoch, Anglesey, was previously jailed for 30 months for her part in the crime.

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