A bride had to walk down a 'dirt path' on her wedding day and pallbearers had to 'tread carefully' after a Rochdale and Oldham based gang struck at churches across the North West, stealing historic York paving stones. Jason Perry, 49, a veteran who received a bravery medal following tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as brothers Connor Lipinski, 28, and Owen Lipinski, 31, were involved in the 'despicable' plot.
The gang targeted eight churches across Cheshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Lancashire, four of which were Grade I listed, during a three month spree last year. They spent 'hours' digging up the historic paving slabs before selling them on.
Chester Crown Court heard that the thefts had a huge impact on congregations at the churches, with the repair bill across all eight said to total more than £100,000. The churches targeted were Church of All Saints, Glossop; St Cuthbert's Church, Halsall, Ormskirk; St Michael's Church, Aughton, Ormskirk; St Ambrose, Grindleton, Clitheroe; St Mary's Church, Whalley; Ormskirk Parish Church; All Saints Church, Grindon, Staffordshire; and St Mary's Church, Astbury.
