A BURGLAR who broke into the home of a vulnerable pensioner and stole the ashes of her beloved pet dog as she slept has been jailed for almost three years.

Richard Graham Cook, 42, who was sentenced in crown court due to him having two previous domestic burglary convictions, stole the wooden box containing the ashes from a home in Mylen Road overnight on April 19.

According to the family of the 83-year-old victim, who suffers from dementia, she was asleep in the house at the time of the raid.

The family member, who asked not to be named, said the pensioner was “devastated” by the loss of the box, which was said to be her “best friend”.

They added that the victim would often talk to the box and that she has “not been the same since” the burglary.

In addition to his 32-month sentence, Cook was also given a consecutive one-month sentence for failing to surrender, after not attending a crown court hearing earlier this month.

He was also slapped with an extra 10 weeks after pleading guilty to a multitude of different offences, during a separate hearing at Basingstoke Magistrates Court.

His long list of crimes included the theft of a perfume from Debenhams, stealing bacon from an Andover service station and possession of crack cocaine.

Cook of Levy Road, was given a 32-month sentence during a hearing at Winchester Crown Court, after pleading guilty to burglary.

Cook was also banned from driving for 29 months and 21 days for failing to provide a urine specimen after being stopped by police while driving a Seat Leon near Stockbridge on 7 July.

He also pleaded guilty to having no licence or insurance at the time.