A THIEF stole a Poppy appeal collection box from a community mourning the loss of a soldier in Afghanistan.

William Fisher has been labelled a disgrace for snatching the loose change donated by customers at the Co-op store in Irlam, Salford. He was caught on CCTV emptying the £7 and poppies into his pockets. The box was later found dumped in a wheelie bin.

Opinion: Crass acts insult our fallen heroes

Just weeks ago, hundreds paid tribute to Fusilier Simon Annis from nearby Cadishead, who died trying to save his commander. Shops closed and locals applauded as his funeral procession arrived and left St John The Baptist Church in Irlam - the church where got married in February.

Gail Murphy, supervisor, at the store, said: "I always wear my poppy with pride every year, but this year is even more poignant because we lost a local lad in Afghanistan.

"We have a box of poppies on a shelf at the check-out and the box was tied to the chip and pin to deter people from stealing it. Taking it was a disgraceful thing to do."

Another member of staff said: "I was furious. We had seen old ladies and children putting in their loose change into the box. It was appalling what he did."

Who else has been locked up in November? Sentences and photo gallery 

Brian Massey, vice president of the Legion for Greater Manchester, said the theft had left him feeling very annoyed and upset as the money was meant for young and ex-servicemen that served their country.

Fisher, 27, who has a string of convictions for shop theft, was jailed for four months at Salford magistrates.. The chairman of the bench, Mr Kevin Machell, told him: "Theft of a charity box causes distress to those people that have given the money and those that are to benefit from it.

"You say you are ashamed, you should be ashamed."

Detective Inspector Amber Plumbley said: "Clearly the thief has no respect for the trauma or hardship these families have had to endure and did not give a second thought to the fact he could have been depriving one of the country's most worthwhile charities of much-needed funds."

Heroin user Williams, who was living in a hostel in Salford, was on bail for another alleged offence when he took the box.