A TEAM of police divers are scouring the Freshney for an iPod stolen by a hospital worker from a dead woman on Christmas Day.
Four divers from the Yorkshire and Humber Diving Team are currently searching for the device, which thief Leslie Ashford, 44, of Alexandra Road, Grimsby, admitted he had hurled into the river after "panicking".
Martin Howarth, prosecuting, told Grimsby Magistrates Court that Ashford had worked as a healthcare assistant at Grimsby's Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, where he had been for about 20 years.
He stole the iPod from the possessions of Patricia Isherwood, 57, of Scartho, Grimsby, who had died on Christmas Eve.
The iPod had been given to her by her uncle, Mr Fox, who had himself since died, and it had been bought for him by his children three years earlier.
The iPod had family mementos, photographs, films and songs on it.
As reported, Ashford was ordered to complete 250 hours' unpaid work and was ordered to pay £190 compensation to the estate of the victim, £85 costs and a Government-imposed £60 victims' surcharge.
After the hearing at Grimsby Magistrates Court, Ashford tearfully told the Telegraph: "I am extremely regretful for what I have done to her family and what I have put my family through."
