A WOMAN has spoken of her torment after burglars stole an urn containing her late husband’s ashes.

Sonia Daniels, 38, from Essex Avenue in Jaywick, said she was “devastated” after discovering that thieves had raided her home and stolen her engagement ring and various tools as well as the urn.

“I had spent the night at my boyfriend’s house and when I came home the next morning I saw that paper was everywhere and someone had been through all my drawers,” she said.

“When I realised they had taken my husband’s ashes I went white as a ghost, it was a really horrible feeling.

“I’m really angry and upset. I don’t know why anyone would have taken it, they must have thought it was valuable.”

Mrs Daniels had been married to her husband Kevin Mines for seven years when died of the smoking-related disease emphysema in February at the age of 59.

The burglary happened between 6.45pm on Monday November 8 and 12.30pm the next day, but Mrs Daniels said she did not report the incident to the police straight away because she was in too much of a state of shock.

“It was our anniversary yesterday so it’s been particularly painful,” she said. “After it happened it made me really ill and I wanted to hurt myself. I just hope the police can find whoever did this quickly.”

Detective constable Tracey Allen said: “Every burglary is difficult for the victim, no matter what is taken or how much damage is done.

“However it is extremely difficult to comprehend how the lady who was the victim of this burglary must feel.

“We are determined to bring the person responsible to justice and would dearly like to see the safe return of the ashes.

“If you have any information which you believe may help the investigation, please get in touch.”

Witnesses should contact DC Allen at Clacton Police Station on 0300 333 4444 or anonymously on Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.