Burglary blow for soldier's family

11:47am Thursday 6th September 2007

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A NEWPORT family were burgled just weeks after their son-in-law was seriously injured by a mortar attack while serving in Iraq.

Andrew and Lorna Heard of Ringland were looking after their four-year-old grandson Morgan so their daughter Toni could visit her husband in hospital when the burglary happened.

Staff Seargent Spencer Whiteley, 29, of the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, was serving with the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh in Basra Palace on August 15 when a mortar landed less then one metre from him and shrapnel struck him in the legs, stomach and torso, including a wound to his leg the size of two fists.

The attack happened just two weeks before he was due to return home for holiday.

Staff Sgt Whiteley's wife Toni said: "It's been a long two weeks, the first 24 hours until I found out more information were horrible, it just managed to miss anything in his chest that could have killed him."

When Staff Sgt Whiteley was moved back to a hospital in England, Mrs Whiteley went to stay with him and her mum and dad agreed to look after Morgan.

Then on Monday night this week, thieves broke into their house and stole cash, car keys and even Mr and Mrs Heard's four-year-old daughter Chloe's money box on the eve of her first day of school.

Mrs Heard said: "My daughter was upset and annoyed about it, she has been saving her pocket money, it was almost full, she uses it to buy toys. We couldn't believe it, it's not a nice start to her first day at school."

Mr Heard said: "It's devastating, one bit of bad luck is bad enough, but we've got this on top."

Police confirmed they are currently investigating the burglary, but no arrests have been made.