A GRIEVING mother is pleading with burglars to return a ruby ring that contains some of her late son’s ashes.

Elizabeth Methven, 41, has been left devastated after thieves ransacked her home in Waalwyk Drive, Canvey, on Saturday night in the same week her son would have celebrated his 23rd birthday.

Joshua Methven, a former Lancaster School pupil, died 19 months ago after developing pneumonia.

The silver ring had been created for his brother Joseph, 17, and was engraved with the name Joshua and a heart.

Miss Methven said: “It is just so sad.

“The ruby in the ring was fused with some of Joshua’s ashes and it wasaway of Joseph having his brother with him.

“I have still not got over losing Joshua and now this has happened–it has been so difficult.”

The thieves also smashed open a wooden box next to Miss Methven’s bed containing her son’s ashes.

Thieves targeted the house between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday.

In addition to the ring they took an iPad mini and a pair of Dr Dre Beats headphones.

Miss Methven and her son Joseph were out when the burglary happened. However, a neighbour reported seeing a man wearing a grey jacket with a large emblem on the back standing in a front room of the home at about 6.35pm.

At the time the neighbour did not suspect anything was wrong.

Miss Methven added: “I had been out at my parents for an hour and realised something was wrong when I came in and saw the bedroom lights on.

“I went into the kitchen and saw my bag had been opened and my things tipped all over the table.

“I ran outside to the garden to call the police because I was scared someone was still in the house.

“I am scared now. I feel like a prisoner in my own home.

“The ring is not worth anything.Iwould just please ask the person who took it to return it to us.”

Police investigating the case believe the thieves got in to the property by forcing a rear window.

Anyone with information can contact Essex Police on 101.