Paintings stolen after artist dies

Lovesey's paintings are worth thousands of pounds

Police are searching for a man in connection with the theft of valuable paintings from a Derby artist.

The paintings were stolen just days after Roderick Lovesey died from a heart attack in June 2002.

Several pieces from his valuable legacy were stolen from his mother's home, just days after his funeral.

Derbyshire Police say they have video footage of a man they want to question about the theft.

'Very vulnerable'

Police spokesman Dave Simsey said: "We have CCTV footage of a man that we suspect is involved in the burglary and was seen at the scene on the day it happened."

The man they want to question is in his 40s and has an Irish accent.

Relatives of the artist say his mother is devastated by the theft.

"She is almost 89 and a very vulnerable lady," her cousin Delores Caddy said.

Richard Felix of the Derby Heritage Centre said: "The paintings are terribly significant to Derby and to the country."