Body exhumed from damaged grave

Police have had to remove a man's body from a grave in Blackley after it was damaged twice in one week.

Officers were sent to the cemetery on Victoria Avenue on Wednesday 27th June 2018 and Wednesday 4th July 2018.

They say William 'Billy' Isaacs who died in 2013 at the age of 45 has since been exhumed from the plot.

Detective Inspector Claire Moss from GMP’s City of Manchester division, said:

“Police enquiries are ongoing, but we believe that this incident was targeted to this specific plot.

“This is a despicable act, and it has caused the family an enormous amount of anguish and grief in finding out that their loved one’s grave has twice been disturbed in what is meant to be a place of rest.

“The motivation for this incident is unclear at this stage of the investigation, but the family want to make it known that their loved one was not buried with any items of monetary value.

“We will do everything we can to find out who is responsible for this, and I would appeal to any members of the public who know anything to please get in touch with police.”

If anyone has any information regarding this matter, please contact 0161 856 1146, quoting reference 625 of 04/07/18 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.