'Despicable' thief who tried to sell World War One memorial plaque for scrap is jailed

A convicted burglar will spend Christmas in jail after being caught trying to sell a stolen First World War memorial plaque to a scrap dealer for just £200.

Jobless Michael Coyle, 40, was captured on CCTV trying to get rid of the 5ft by 3ft bronze memorial.

When the dealer realised the significance of the plaque, which was inscribed with the names of 34 men who died in the Great War, he confronted Coyle, who claimed an ‘old guy’ had given it to him and he didn’t know what it was.

Magistrates were told that police were called and arrested Coyle two days later based on the CCTV footage. 


But he refused to name his accomplice and the plaque, which had been taken from the grounds of Christ Church, Willaston, Wirral, in July has never been recovered.      Full Read