A callous couple from the Black Country have been sent to prison after stealing from a man as he lay dying from a cardiac arrest.
The Heartless Crime in a Dudley Doorway
West Midlands Police were called to Himley Street in Dudley at 10.30pm on 15 December 2024 after reports of a man collapsed on the floor. While paramedics desperately performed CPR on the victim, officers observed suspicious activity.
They saw a man, later identified as 47-year-old Jason Pettit, leaving the patient's address carrying a green shopping bag and locking the door. A woman, 42-year-old Jodie Westwood, was seen standing near the victim wearing a backpack.
Despite being asked to stay at the scene by police, the pair left, only to return a short time later without the bag and backpack.
Police Investigation Uncovers Stolen Goods
Following a search of the victim's address, officers discovered his mobile phone, smart watch, and flat keys were missing. Using tracking technology, they traced the phone to Pettit's home.
There, they found the green shopping bag which contained a tablet, headphones, a man bag, and a wallet holding the victim's bank cards. Westwood's backpack was also recovered, containing a laptop and paperwork bearing all the victim's personal details.
Investigations revealed that Westwood had made the initial 999 call, with the call handler heard instructing someone to perform CPR amidst shouting in the background.
Court Sentencing and Police Statement
Pettit and Westwood, both of Dudley, appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 7 January 2026. Pettit pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal and theft from a person, receiving a prison sentence of three years and eight months.
Westwood pleaded guilty to theft from a person and was jailed for two years and five months.
PC Katie Hadley of West Midlands Police said: "The acts of Pettit and Westwood were cold hearted in committing theft when a man needed help. We take a strong stance on all burglary incidents reported to us and worked hard to investigate this incident and put all the pieces together."
She added: "Our thoughts are with those that knew the gentleman, and I hope this outcome provides some closure that those who preyed on him when he was most vulnerable have now been jailed. I hope the sentences they've received and their time behind bars will give them a chance to reflect on their callous acts that day."
