An undertaker faces a compensation claim after he sabotaged the funeral of a woman that was being handled by a rival firm. The man, David Wood, stole the keys from a vintage Rolls Royce Phantom 6 which was being used to carry the body of Patricia Thorburn to her last resting place. This left the staff of Joel D Kerr funeral services to ‘hotwire’ the car in order to proceed with the funeral procession.
The funeral was subsequently delayed by one hour, causing great emotional distress to the family of Patricia Thorburn.
Irene Jessop is a funeral director with Joel D Kerr, he told the Crown Court in Teesside:
The level of disrespect is unbelievable, dreadful.
David Wood stole the keys to the funeral car because he thought he was having clients poached by Joel D Kerr. One of Mrs Thorburn’s relatives said of the incident:
I can’t understand what type of person would steal the keys to a hearse on the way to a burial. It is absolutely sickening.
David Wood changed his plea to guilty shortly before the trial began and now faces a compensation claim for the emotional distress he has caused.
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