Anger as thieves take memorial to Colne crash victim (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Anger as thieves take memorial to Colne crash victim

3:30pm Saturday 23rd June 2012 in Pendle By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

FIRE TRIBUTE Tom Petty

A MEMORIAL to crash victim Tom Petty that was set to be erected at Colne Fire Station has been stolen.

The plaque and stand of 10 model fire engines was to be put up at the station, where 25-year-old Tom worked as a part-time firefighter.

But the memorial, put together and donated by Army veteran Mick Thompson, was stolen from the boot of Coun Neil Butterworth’s car.

Tom, his girlfriend and former Westholme student Jessica Foxley, 21, and friend Philip Wright, 25, died after their Ford Focus crashed in Skipton Road, near the junction with Long Lane, in July 2009.

The plaque was stolen, along with Help for Heroes branded clothes used to raise money for the charity, and some personal items, from the car outside Coun Butterworth’s house in Oak Street between 1.30am and 7am on Sunday.

Coun Butterworth said: “If I could choose one thing to get back it would be the fire engines.

“If the people who have done this could find it in the hearts, and take a look in the mirror and have the compassion to give the fire engines back then I would be grateful.

“They weren’t toys and it is something that no amount of money can replace.

“I have had so many people come up to me and say they are shocked and appalled by this, it is horrifying that somebody would steal this.

“I have had a few offers of help since it happened for which I am very grateful, and a couple of people have offered to donate model fire engines, which is fantastic.

“We are after donations, people have offered money and I could have gone on and bought 10 new model engines, but that wasn’t the reason this memorial was put together, it was done out of love, and buying the engines after something like this doesn’t seem right.”

Anybody with information can contact police on 01282 425001.