Woman admits stealing flowers from graves

A 71-year-old widow in the UK has been fined for stealing flowers from a child’s grave after being reported to police by her daughter.

Berta Manzanero, of Green Lane, Dagenham, east London, pleaded guilty to stealing four flower pots worth £15 from the graves of relatives of Stephen Rose in Rippleside Cemetery, Barking, last month.

The floral tributes were taken from the graves of Mr Rose’s aunt and cousin, Redbridge Magistrates’ Court heard. The cousin died as a child in the 1980s.

Manzanero was arrested yesterday after her 39-year-old daughter recognised her picture in media reports and called police.

The court heard that Manzanero suffered depression after her 40-year-old son, who worked in the financial sector, killed himself.

Manzanero was fined £300, plus £30 costs and compensation, having admitted one count of theft.