A burglar left a five-year-old boy devastated after stealing his beloved puppy.
Karen Higgins said 12-week-old French bulldog Stitch had been her autistic son Tyler's "sidekick" before his callous theft by Johnathan Waters. As the mum desperately searched for the pet in the aftermath of the break-in, the 31-year-old - who lived directly across the street from the family - feigned ignorance and told her "that's heavy that".
But he was spared prison over the incident at Liverpool Magistrates' Court yesterday, Tuesday. Magistrates heard that Ms Higgins had been home at the address on Wilburn Street in Walton shortly before May 19 this year when she heard one of their two dogs barking furiously.
