The “heartbroken” family of a man who’s ashes were stolen from a house in Bury are appealing for information alongside police.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has explained that, back on Tuesday 19 September, officers were called out to reports of a burglary at a woman’s home on Brandlesholme Road in Bury, and it’s believed that a number of power tools were stolen from the garage.
Not only that though, as in what is a truly upsetting incident, the ashes of the woman’s husband were also stolen.
Given the distressing nature of the theft – especially after the couple had been married for nearly 50 years before the man sadly passed away earlier this year – GMP has now launched an investigation, and is following a number of lines of enquiry at the moment.
In the meantime though, the family of the man have issued a joint appeal with police to the public for further information.
ADVERTISEMENT
#APPEAL | Family appeal for information after husband's ashes stolen from their house.
On Tuesday (19/9/23) GMP were called to reports of a burglary on Brandlesholme Rd, Bury. A number of power tools were stolen from the garage, but also a man's ashes. https://t.co/3xyFZogVnRpic.twitter.com/cXwrvsO3Hj
“Earlier this year, I lost my husband Nigel to pancreatic cancer after being married for nearly 50 years,” the family’s public appeal begins, “Nigel’s death has completely devastated our family, and to say we are heartbroken would be an understatement.
“On Tuesday 19 September 2023, I discovered that the garage at the rear of our home had been broken into and a number of power tools had been stolen from inside.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Also stolen from inside the garage, from the wooden workbench, were Nigel’s ashes. Nigel’s ashes were in a mint green coloured box, inside a burgundy coloured tote bag.
“Nigel spent the majority of his time in the garage, as he was a passionate handyman who would turn his hands to absolutely anything and loved spending time at his workbench. When we received Nigel’s ashes, we decided as a family that we would place them on his wooden workbench in the garage, as this is where he loved to be, and where he was his happiest.
“One of Nigel’s last wishes was that he wanted to have his ashes scattered at Woodbank Cricket Club. A place which held a special place in his heart, he loved spending time here, but as a family, we decided that we would wait until the cricket season was over to scatter Nigel’s ashes.
ADVERTISEMENT
“And now the season is over, we cannot fulfil his wishes as someone has stolen them from us.”
GMP issues appeal after a man’s ashes are stolen from a house in Bury / Credit: GMP
The family’s appeal continues: “I am appealing to the local community and the people of Bury, and I ask that anyone with any knowledge of this crime come forward with information.
“There must be someone who knows or has any information about this.
“I am not interested in the return of the power tools, all I want is for my husband’s ashes to be returned to us, so as a family we can fulfil his last wish and lay him to rest.
“I have already lost my husband, and now I have lost him for a second time.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Anyone with any information is asked to call GMP on 0161 856 8222 quoting log 2738 of 19/09/23, or alternatively contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – GMP
News
New data estimates that 7.3m Oasis fans are set to miss out on 2027 tour tickets
Emily Sergeant
New data has revealed that as many as 7.3 million Oasis fans could be set to miss out on tickets to the band’s 2027 tour.
In case you need bringing up to speed a little, it was announced earlier this week that, following the unprecedented success of the reunion tour, Oasis Live ’25, last year, including five nostalgia-drenched gigs at Manchester’s Heaton Park, Oasis would be hitting the road once again in 2027, and this time around, they’re going BIG.
We’re talking 11 nights at the Etihad Stadium and a return to the iconic grounds of Knebworth for four special shows there too, kind of ‘big’.
The iconic Manchester band will also be taking to a range of other world-famous stages across the globe, including five nights at Glasgow’s Celtic Park, and major cities like Barcelona, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, and Las Vegas.
But despite the elevated number of dates the Gallaghers and co will be performing, some new data has unfortunately revealed that millions of fans may still not be lucky enough to snag a ticket.
The ticketing system for Oasis Live ’27 is not what it was for the last tour, nor will it be similar to many other tours of a similar scale in the past either, as this time, the band and their promotors are taking necessary measures to ensure ‘genuine fans’ get their hands on the tickets and that dynamic pricing doesn’t creep in.
Instead of going into detail on that now though, you can read our full guide on how to get tickets for the Manchester and Knebworth shows here.
Experts at online ticketing platform TicketSource have analysed the scale of demand for Oasis tickets by comparing the 10 million fans worldwide who queued for the initial release of 1.4 million tickets for their 2025 tour, with the newly announced 2027 tour dates and stadium capacities.
With an estimated 2.67 million tickets available across 38 dates and 11 locations between 21 May and 19 September 2027, Oasis could still face huge demand from fans hoping to see them live.
But research reveals the band would need to play 112 Wembley-sized shows to accommodate everyone who tried to get a ticket in 2025.
The 2027 tour would accommodate just 26.7% of those who tried to get tickets last time, meaning almost three-quarters (73%) of them could miss out, leaving a shortfall of more than 7.3 million fans.
Fingers crossed you’re among the lucky lot that secure tickets, though.
Featured Image – Joshua Halling (Press Image – Supplied)
News
Former GMP officer jailed after being found guilty of several online child sex offences
Emily Sergeant
A former police officer from Salford has been sentenced after being found guilty of a string of online child sex offences.
Following a trial back in July, 35-year-old Michael Aspinall was sentenced at Preston Crown Court earlier this week (Monday 14 September) after being found guilty of three counts of attempting sexual communication with a child.
It comes after Aspinall – who was employed by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) at the time of the offences – was arrested in October 2024 by detectives from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU), and was immediately suspended from duty following his arrest.
The investigation began after evidence was obtained that Aspinall had been communicating online with individuals that he believed to be children, but he was in fact communicating with a police officer.
Following this series of interactions, he was charged with various offences.
In addition to his eight-month sentence – which has been suspended for two years – Aspinall will also be placed on the sex offender’s register for 10 years, subject to a five-year serious crime prevention order, and have undertake 20 days of rehabilitation, GMP has confirmed.
He has additionally been added to the College of Policing’s barred list.
An application to request forfeiture of Aspinall’s police pension has also been made to the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester.
“Aspinall’s offending was clearly unacceptable for any right-minded member of society and particularly inappropriate for a serving police officer,” commented Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Humphreys, from GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate.
“His actions put the whole police service under scrutiny, but thanks to the hard work and diligence of undercover officers, he was arrested, found guilty, and has now received his punishment.”
DCI Humphreys concluded: “[Aspinall’s] actions take away from the hard work of the men and women who work so hard for their communities every day, and it is only right that anyone committing these sort of offences are rooted out.”
Emily Sergeant -
23rd October 2023 
