As reported in the Yorkshire Evening Post earlier this year, Scott Angus, 18, collapsed when out skateboarding with friends on May 10 and later died in hospital.

Richard Hancock, 18, went to the funeral 11 days later and returned to Scott's Wakefield home at the wake.

Once in the house he spotted an expensive mobile phone and iPod in Scott's room.

Three weeks later, on June 11, he returned to the home, claiming he wanted to speak to Scott's sister Tracy about getting hold of tribute photos.

Although she was out, Scott's disabled mum Lynda let him in.

Hancock then claimed he was going to the toilet – but instead stole the items plus Scott's bank card and £14 from his wallet.

Prosecuting at Leeds Crown Court, Alison Storey said that once in the house Hancock used going to the toilet as an excuse to sneak into the teenager's bedroom. He was caught when the grieving family realised the items were missing hours after Hancock's visit and they called the police.

When interviewed by officers, Hancock told them he had "always wanted" that type of Nokia mobile phone.

Mitigating, Sam Andrews said Hancock was immature but now felt genuine remorse.

Hancock, of Ferry Fryston, near Selby, had admitted burglary at an earlier hearing.

Sentencing him to 18 months in a young offenders' institution Judge Peter Benson said: "It is hard to imagine a meaner and more callous offence."

Speaking after the case, Scott's father Noel, 43, said: "We were very, very upset. Because of this we have gone through all the grief again.

"It was bad enough going through the funeral, but for someone to rifle through his bedroom and take sentimental items is unbelievable.

"We got the items back, but Scott had skateboarding videos and pictures on his phone which had been wiped. They were so important and now we will never see them again."

Mum Lynda, 56, said: "I'm convinced he planned to steal Scott's things deliberately from the start.

"He had no intention of going to the funeral to pay his respects, he just wanted to take advantage of us by claiming he wanted photographs. It is sickening."

Scott, a warehouse worker, had been skateboarding and BMX-ing
with pals in a supermarket car park near his home when he collapsed
and died later in nearby Pinderfields Hospital.

An inquest in July found that Scott had an enlarged heart for his age and that a defect with the electrical impulses controlling his heart was what caused him to collapse.