A MOTHER has launched an appeal to get her daughter’s ashes back as the ‘callous’ thief who stole them was sentenced to five years in prison.

Kirk Telford, aged 36, was found guilty of burglary at Bolton Crown Court yesterday before being sent to jail.

Telford was sentenced for stealing the ashes of Christine Foster’s daughter and husband as well as her wedding album in a crime that was described as being targeted to cause the ‘maximum possible personal loss’ by prosecutor, Andrew Evans.

The album and the ashes of her husband, David Foster, were recovered near to her home in Chorley Old Road but the ashes of her daughter, Sarah Foster, have never been found.

Speaking after the sentencing, Mrs Foster said that she believes Telford knows where the ashes are and he has only prolonged her suffering by not revealing their location.

The ashes were taken on August 13 last year when Telford broke into a downstairs flat and stole a bag containing the ashes and the wedding album.

Judge Timothy Clayson told the court that when he did so Telford ignored a number of valuable items, which led him to believe this was a targeted attack.

Addressing Telford, also of Chorley Old Road, Judge Clayson said: “Mrs Foster was caused the most enormous distress by this offence.

“This is an extremely callous crime. You have shown no remorse.

"This offence is utterly inexcusable.”

Mrs Foster, who now lives in Tonge Moor, lost her husband David to cancer in 2010, when he was aged 56.

She lost her daughter tragically in 2015 at the age of 40.

She is now the guardian of her daughter’s three children and hopes that they can all start to move on.

Mrs Foster said: “I can’t believe that someone would do something so callous.

“I don’t really have any thoughts for Telford. It is despicable what he has done. I can’t forgive him for what he has done.

“If he would tell me where Sarah was I would have asked the judge to go easier on him. That’s how much I am convinced he knows where they are.”

She appealed to anyone who knows where the ashes are to contact police.

Mrs Foster said: “When Sarah died it was like losing a part of me.

“If I had money I would offer a reward, but I don’t.”

The ashes were stored in a blue box from Overdale Crematorium with Sarah Foster printed on it.

When it was taken it also had an elastic band wrapped around it with the death certificate also in place. Mrs Foster added that when she died the plan was for her ashes to be mixed with those of her husband and daughter and spread in the Troodos mountains in Cyprus.

The court heard how Telford had 48 previous convictions for 91 offences, including a number of burglaries.

The court was also told how he had a long-standing addiction to heroin and had previously carried out burglaries i which he stole items to sell for money to feed this habit.

Telford was said to ‘feel sorry for Mrs Foster’ and that if he knew where the ashes were he would have told the police a long time ago.