CHAINSAW death victim Stephen Clarke's home was burgled while his grieving widow was talking to police investigating the killing, it was revealed today.

And the dead man's wife, who has been left to look after his three-month-old son, claims callous thieves deliberately targeted the house knowing what had happened.

The 35-year-old's home on Infirmary Street was raided just hours after Stephen's mutilated body was found at Victoria House flats in Blackburn.

Devastated Andrea Clarke said: "I was in town at the police station and my solicitors yesterday and when I came back I found somebody had broken into the house.

"They came in and took the video because they knew he was dead. I can't believe anybody could be so cruel."

The couple were due to celebrate three years of marriage on March 13 and have a baby boy called Ryan.

Andrea, 30, said her husband had been in trouble before but his attitude changed after Ryan's birth.

She added: "I know he liked the women and he wasn't faithful to me but they meant nothing to him.

"He always looked after me and he worshipped Ryan. I noticed a change in him when the baby was born and he would never have left me. "I just can't get my head around what has happened. The police came round at 11 o'clock on Tuesday and told me he was dead but I still don't know exactly what happened."

The dismembered body of Stephen, who had convictions for burglary, was found in a bedroom at the tower block flats shortly before 9pm on Tuesday. His body had been cut up using a chainsaw.

Police believe he was also attacked with a hammer and were today searching the area around the flats, including the nearby canal, for the weapon.

A 19-year-old former girlfriend of Stephen's, who lived in the flat, was arrested for murder on Tuesday night.

Police yesterday applied to magistrates for a 24 hour custody extension and were due to question her further today.

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