Locked up for charity theft
35-YEAR-OLD JAILED FOR STEALING CASH FOR BRADLEY LOWERY
Reporter A MAN has been sent to prison for stealing a charity box in aid of brave cancer battler Bradley Lowery.
Stephen Whitworth, 35, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to the one count of theft and was handed a sentence of 12 weeks behind bars.
The collection box for the youngster was snatched from the counter of The Lunch Box, in Yoden Road, Peterlee, at the end of last week.
Officers investigating the theft arrested Whitworth, of Great North Road, Chester-le-Street, and recovered the money taken from the subsequently-discarded charity box.
Police were alerted to the crime after the box was found just after 11am on Sunday morning.
A post from Durham Constabulary on Facebook said: “Thanks to info from members of public we have managed to get Bradley Lowery’s money back for him. “A man was arrested at 3.30am today and is now in cells at Peterlee and will be interviewed later.” The post included a picture of the money which had been stolen. Bradley, from Blackhall, County Durham, has battled neuroblastoma is set to lead England out as – a rare childhood mascot at a World Cup qualifier on form of cancer March 26. – since January His parents Gemma, 33, and Carl 2013. have documented his journey on The football-mad social media for his supporters and Gemma recently shared the devastating youngster news that the cancer had spread to Bradley’s spine. He is undergoing palliative treatment at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. Gemma and Carl were given the devastating news late last year that their son’s cancer was terminal but they have vowed not to give up.