Yahoo News Drug addict dug up couple's grave looking for money to fund habit
Wayne Joselyn dug up the resting place of Kell and Maud Goodwin, who have been buried together since 1984, at Carlton Cemetery in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
A drug addict who dug up the grave of an elderly couple in an attempt to find money to fund his habit has been jailed.
Wayne Joselyn, 43, dug up the resting place of Kell and Maud Goodwin, who have been buried together since 1984, in April last year.
Mrs Goodwin died at the age of 78 and was buried next to her husband, who passed away when he was 80 in 1982.
Joselyn targeted the burial site after hearing a rumour that a plot at Carlton Cemetery in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, contained jewellery and money.
A member of the public who visited the cemetery on 2 May to tend to their own relative's plot found the Goodwin's grave had been disturbed.
South Yorkshire Police then launched an investigation which revealed that Joselyn was the person who dug up the grave.
At Sheffield Crown Court Joselyn pleaded guilty to criminal damage and a further count of outraging public decency and common law and was sentenced to 15 months in jail to run consecutively to the sentence he is already serving.
Mr and Mrs Goodwin's family hit out at the sentence, saying in a statement: "As a family we don't feel the sentence reflects the significance of the intrusion on Maud and Kell, the impact on us, nor the work put in by South Yorkshire Police, who have not just worked tirelessly on this case but also shown so much compassion."
Paying tribute to Mr and Mrs Goodwin, the family added: "It broke our hearts. We’re still stuck for words now.
"The memories we have of them are that they were really loving, they were just so sweet.
"They were so lovely to us and always there for us.
"They were the rock of our family and raised some of us – and for those members of the family they made it a gorgeous world to grow up in.
"We really loved them."
Speaking after sentencing, detective constable Toni Wain added: "I have seen first-hand how this disturbing crime has affected the family both emotionally and psychologically.
"They have handled it with such dignity, strength and patience while the investigation was ongoing.
"I am pleased we were able to get justice for the family but that does not mean their sorrow ends now.
"This is a time where the family can finally process what has happened and grieve once again."
