A dog owner woke to find her house had been ransacked by two drug addicts - just hours before taking her beloved pet to be put to sleep.
Julie Ritchie found the terminally ill dog cowering in the corner and discovered her bank card and cherished belongings were gone.
Now Alysha Clayton and boyfriend Mark Mayren have been jailed for climbing into an open window and using their victim’s money to go on a £525 shopping spree at an all night garage.
The pair searched the living room where the sick dog was sleeping, adding to the homeowner’s trauma ahead of a terrible day.
Miss Ritchie said: "My dog was extremely poorly and was going to be put to sleep. But I had to wait at home all day for police to attend the property before going to the vets.
"The burglary happened in the living room which is where the dog was so must have been scary for the her. There's a negative atmosphere in house now - I used to feel safe in her own personal space."
Among the items taken were a diary, sunglasses and backpack plus a sentimental Yankee Candle commemorating her late uncle.
Clayton and Mayren were found hours later on June 2 at a home in Worsley Mesnes, Wigan, Greater Manchester after CCTV captured them trying to break into parked cars in the area.
Mayren attacked the officers, punching one in the face and spitting at another, before trying to deliver a headbutt.
He was taken to hospital after appearing to suffer a fit whilst being detained - but attempted to escape by climbing through the roof tiles in the ward toilet.
Officers went into the bathroom to check on Mayren when he didn’t come back out for ten minutes, only to later find him hiding in a space in the ceiling.
Bolton Crown Court heard the pair are seasoned offenders - Clayton has 27 previous offences and Mayren has 82.
Clayton admitted burglary and fraud and was jailed for 18 months, while Mayren admitted burglary, fraud and an assault on police and was jailed for two years and 218 days.
Defending Clayton, Josh Bowker said the offence was “plainly a nasty and unpleasant offence” but said his client was abusing spice to cope with heroin withdrawal and was in an “utterly desperate situation”.
Michael Johnson, on behalf of Mayren, said his client was coping with a family bereavement and fell into a “chaotic lifestyle” but “wants to get his life back on track”.
Sentencing, Judge Graeme Smith said: "Julie Ritchie no longer says her house is a safe space.
“Her dog was required to be put to sleep the next day and although you were not to know about that when you entered someone else's property, you have to take all of the consequences that follow."
