A PENSIONER has been devastated after burglars broke into his house and stole his life savings while he visited his sick wife in hospital.

Joseph Carr said the five-figure amount taken from his safe had been his “jackpot” to help pay for his 72-year-old wife Dorothy go into a care home and to pay for their funerals.

The 78-year-old of Milton Avenue, Blackhall, near Peterlee, County Durham, said he could no longer live in the house they had shared together for 50 years, following the raid.

The devout Christian said he may be willing to forgive the culprits – but only once they have brought to justice.

“I don’t feel I can live there anymore," he said. "This has been a devastating.I would appeal to anyone with information to contact the police so this does not happen to anyone else.

“I want them to be caught and be made an example of so that other people will see it is not right.”

The former miner said he had gone to visit his wife - who suffers cerebral dementia brought on by a number of strokes - at 1.30pm on Thursday, September 25.

He arrived home three hours later and sat down and watched TV oblivious the break-in, until he went upstairs and found his bedroom ransacked.

Mr Carr said: “The safe was on the bed and it was open. They hadn’t forced it. Unfortunately I left the key in a drawer and they found it.

“All my life savings had gone, as well as some jewellery. I was in shock. It was to cover my expenses, such as our funerals and my wife going into a care home.”

He said the hardest had been breaking the news to his wife.

He said: “She was in shock as well, but after I had been with her for a while she said “as long as we are together”.

It was the couple’s 51st wedding anniversary on Sunday, but Mr Carr said they did not feel like celebrating.

PC Paul Harbisher said: “Mr Carr was targeted by people who knew he was out between certain times and was vulnerable.

“A five-figure sum taken so someone may have been flashing cash around that they haven’t had before. The jewellery will be identifiable as well.

Among the goods stolen were a pocket watch with a white face and gold chain, a gold sovereign St George ring, a gold ring with black Onyx face and a gold Irish Claddagh ring.

Anyone with information should contact Durham Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.