Mother who lied to undertakers to get her 32-year-old son cremated in secret pauper's funeral to spite her ex-husband is jailed for four months 

  • Mother carried on grudge against son's father since divorce 30 years ago
  • When son died she held secret cremation so that father could not attend
  • Cathleen Hackney now jailed after prosecution under 100-year-old law
  • Father Paul Barber does not know where his son's ashes were scattered 

Former nurse Cathleen Hackney filled in false paperwork to stop her ex attending their 32-year-old son's cremation. She has now been jailed

Former nurse Cathleen Hackney filled in false paperwork to stop her ex attending their 32-year-old son's cremation. She has now been jailed

A 'wicked' and 'vindictive' mother who lied to undertakers in order to secretly have her son cremated to spite her ex-husband has been jailed for four months.

Former nurse Cathleen Hackney, aged 56, of Stoke-on-Trent, lied to undertakers so she could cremate the body of her son John Moreland without his father, Paul Barber, being present.

Last month Hackney was convicted of two charges under the 1902 Cremations Act after jurors heard that no-one - not even Hackney herself - attended the funeral of the couple's son.

Mr Barber, was left completely unaware that his son's funeral was taking place.

Today Hackney was jailed for four months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court by Judge David Fletcher.

The judge, who also ordered Hackney to pay Mr Barber £5,000 in compensation, said the breaches of the Cremations Act had led to Mr Moreland's relatives being 'kept completely in the dark' about his funeral in 2010.

Judge Fletcher told Hackney: 'I have no doubt that this is a case where your actions were intended to cause harm specifically to Mr Barber.

'You willingly violated the criminal law to achieve that aim.'

Adding that Mr Barber had suffered psychological distress, the judge told his ex wife: 'Your behaviour undermined a serious and important process in the most fundamental way.

'Your behaviour has plumbed the depths and can properly be described as selfish and egocentric. 

'It's an old-fashioned word, I know, but your behaviour was wicked.'

Last month MailOnline reported that Hackney is still refusing to reveal where her son's ashes are scattered.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that - despite more than three decades having passed since their 'acrimonious' divorce in 1983 - Hackney and Mr Barber's relationship was dogged by 'dispute and conflict'.

Within hours of their 32-year-old son's death from chronic liver disease in 2010, they clashed during a telephone conversation which led to Hackney carrying out one final act of revenge.

Father Paul Barber (pictured today outside court) did not know his only son's funeral was taking place

Father Paul Barber (pictured today outside court) did not know his only son's funeral was taking place

Cathleen Hackney, 56, (pictured arriving at Stoke Crown Court today) where she was jailed for four months

Cathleen Hackney, 56, (pictured arriving at Stoke Crown Court today) where she was jailed for four months

The court heard that Hackney was motivated by 'spite' when she switched funeral directors and arranged a secret funeral to ensure Mr Barber couldn't be at the service.  

The next day at The Co-operative Funeral Care in Meir, Stoke-on-Trent, she filled in a form stating that no near relative was opposed to the cremation.

When Mr Barber heard about her plans, he took legal advice so he could be involved. He even took steps to stop Paul's body being removed from the hospital mortuary.

But Hackney sacked the first undertaker and met with a second funeral director and signed another form stating they were no reasons why they could not go ahead with the cremation five days later.

Despite the efforts of Mr Barber's lawyers, the body was wrongly released for a funeral which took place on December 20, 2010 at Stafford Crematorium. 

A jury was told in her 'unholy rush' to have her son cremated the service was 'slotted in' early one cold December morning with no one present - not even Hackney.

Now, four years after his son's tragic death, Mr Barber is still uncertain where the ashes of his only son have been scattered.

Paul Barber, pictured with his wife Gill, says he still does not know where his son's ashes were scattered

Paul Barber, pictured with his wife Gill, says he still does not know where his son's ashes were scattered

Hackney told the jury: 'All I wanted was to lay Paul to rest. The problem was Mr Barber wanted to take part in the funeral with me, but I did not want to be in the same room after he had insulted me.'

Asked by prosecuting barrister Deborah Gould why she signed the form she replied that she did not think Mr Barber 'would have a problem with the cremation'.

Mrs Gould asked her: 'Did you think your son would want to be cremated in the absence of any member of his family, what they used to call a pauper's burial?'

Hackney replied: 'Actually, Paul would have found that quite amusing.'

She described her ex-husband's request to be present at his son's funeral as 'unreasonable'.

Paul Moreland, pictured during his youth, died aged 32 from chronic liver disease in 2010 after contracting a rare condition called autoimmune hepatitis

Paul Moreland, pictured during his youth, died aged 32 from chronic liver disease in 2010 after contracting a rare condition called autoimmune hepatitis

Pipe fitter Mr Barber, 56, only found out the cremation had taken place in a phone message left for him by his solicitor three hours after the service.

Mr Barber, of Cellarhead, Staffordshire, contacted police shortly afterwards, but Hackney was not interviewed until last December - four years after the crime.

Prosecutor Mrs Gould said: 'It is a uniquely sad state of affairs that in this day and age we have to rely on an act from 1902 to regulate people's behaviour, but sometimes it has to be done.'

Last month Hackney was found guilty of signing a false certificate with a view to procuring the burning of human remains and of making a false representation with a view to procuring the burning of human remains. 

She was cleared of a third charge.

As she left court with her second husband, Paul Hackney, the guilty woman was confronted by Mr Barber who told her: 'You should be ashamed.'

She was today jailed for four months. 

Speaking outside court Mr Barber said he had a good relationship with his son, who was in his mid-20s when he was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis.

The disease causes the body's immune system to attack the cells in the liver and can lead to cirrhosis.

'Paul was my only son, he never got the chance of a transplant and sadly he died far too young. 

'All I wanted was to be at the funeral and choose a hymn,' Mr Barber said.

'We were only married for three years and divorced more than 30 years ago, but she has carried this grudge on and on.

'She claims that the ashes were scattered on her family's burial plot, but I didn't even know there was one.

'I don't believe a word she says, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if she still has Paul's ashes.' 

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