04 February 2023 , 16:32
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Footage captures a shameless thief walk down a residential street with flowers she had just stolen from a child's grave.
Leanne Slater nicked the floral tributes, which were left minutes prior, to honour 14-year-old Keiran Dixon, on the 10th anniversary of his death.
Slater's theft left Keiran's family, in Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside, heartbroken.
But the 39-year-old woman was found guilty after a trial on Wednesday, reports Teesside Live.
Speaking after the hearing at Teesside Magistrates' Court, Keiran's grieving mum Donna Dixon, 45, said she was "absolutely gutted" when she realised the flowers had been stolen. She said: "It's appalling to even stoop that low."
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Leanne Slater was caught on camera with the flowersKeiran died suddenly in 2012 and was laid to rest at Durham Road cemetery in Stockton-on-Tees. Family and friends visited the grave to mark 10 years since his passing, and laid fresh flowers on June 7, 2022.
But the blooms were stolen after just half an hour.
Donna continued: "It's not nice to steal anything, but from a cemetery... it's just disgusting. It was such a kick in the teeth the flowers had only been on his garden for half an hour and it was his 10th memorial.
"He was a popular kid so everyone knew where the flowers had come from so we were just absolutely gutted. It made me sick to my stomach.
"I understand people have problems but it just leaves you speechless to think people would do that."
Leanne Slater was convicted of theft (The Gazette)
Donna Dixon was devastated when the flowers were taken (Terry Blackburn / Teeside Live)The defendant was caught after Keiran's friend Jessica Hart received a picture of Slater carrying two of the floral tributes she left. She then received CCTV footage of Slater with the items.
In the video, Slater can be seen carrying a bouquet under each arm and travelling away from the scene.
Giving evidence in court, Donna said when she saw the picture when she got in her car and looked for the defendant, she said: "I saw her wearing the same coat and got out and confronted her. She just denied she had been anywhere near."