Heartless Brian Thompson found the body of his friend Adrian Carter after calling at his home in Hull in May last year.

But instead of raising the alarm, 59-year-old Thompson raided the home and lined his pockets, returning on nine occasions to help himself to the late Mr Carter's possessions.

In a case described by Humberside Police as "disturbing", Thompson left Mr Carter's body lying at home for eight days as he stole various belongings – including the deceased victim's beloved pet cockatiel.

He was later caught and charged with burglary and preventing Mr Carter's lawful burial, charges which he denied but was ultimately found guilty of by a jury at Hull Crown Court today (Tuesday).

The jury heard how Mr Carter was believed to have passed away overnight on Friday, May 17 last year, but was not discovered until Tuesday, May 28. Thompson however returned to the property nine times between May 17 and May 20 to steal.

He was jailed for five years.

Welcoming the verdict, Detective Sergeant Kevin Goodman who led the investigation said: “From the very beginning of this investigation, it was not only disturbing, but tragic to unravel the circumstances surrounding the burglary. I am very pleased that justice has been served and Thompson will now be spending the next five years of his life behind bars.

“Adrian Carter had trusted his friend so much that he had given him a key to his property; trust that was completely taken advantage of in this horrific act.

“It is very difficult to this day for me to understand what would be going through someone’s mind to steal from someone that had passed away, especially someone that had called you a friend.

“Everybody has a right, and deserves, to be found and laid to rest in a dignified and timely fashion, which Thompson also took away from Mr Carter and his family.

“This has been a traumatic set of events for the family to go through and my thoughts go out to them at this time.”

Mr Carter's death is not being treated as suspicious.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson (Editor)

Callous Hull thief who found friend's dead body left him there for over a week while he burgled his home nine times