A MAN who attempted to sell stolen memorial plaques for cash has been sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to pay compensation.

Nathan Luke Hallsworth, of HeathcliffeŠClose, Birstall, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods after selling the plaques which Šwere ripped from the walls ofŠSt Mary’s Church memorial garden in Mirfield.

He claimed to be unaware the metal he was attempting to sell toŠan Ossett scrapyard, was the memorial plaques and toldŠthe courtŠthat he had been “duped”.

Yesterday at Leeds Crown Court the judge, Recorder Richard Woolfall, described how the crime had leftŠmembers of the community “bewildered” and “physically sick”.ŠŠ

He told Hallsworth: “You are 26 years of age and you have an utterly appalling record for offences of dishonesty.

“Anyone involved in theft and subsequent handling of memorial plaques can expect a significant custodial sentence.

“Theft of items with such a high sentimental value is a very serious crime.

“I have read a letter from the Rev Hugh Baker who has seen first hand the level of distress caused to the families.

“It has resulted in distress, anger and bewilderment and he refers to feelings of physical sickness, some say it felt like they had been punched in the stomach.

“However I am satisfied that you did not know the true matter of the items.”Š

When Hallsworth was arrested for the crime in September Šhe was found with £320 on him, which he was ordered to pay toward the Mirfield Parish Team in compensation.Š

Yesterday, the court heard from John Crookes, of Eric France Scrapyard who had weighed up the 11kg of metal being sold by Hallsworth and paid him just £30.20 for it.

ŠHe said that at first glance he was unable to tell that the metal Hallsworth had handed over was memorial plaques, but based on the colour of it was able to divide it into brass and guilded metal, both of which sell for different values.

After a close inspection and help from his boss, he discovered it was the plaques and alerted the police.

On the basis that Mr Crookes had two-years of experience valuing metal and was unable to identify the plaques immediately, Recorder Woolfall said that on “the balance of probabilities” Hallsworth would have been unable to determine the metal as memorial plaques.

Although Hallsworth was believed to only be selling around 5% ofŠ the plaques, 169 were taken in total and were believed to have costŠ aroundŠ £24,000 to make.

Jake Telford, 17, was given £112.50 for some of the 169 plaques and is now serving an 18-month prison sentence following a series of other offences.