Two teenagers police believe continued to search a house despite finding the owner dead were yesterday sent to a detention centre.

Jordan Anderson, 18, of Wolsey Road, Oxford, Andrew Reilly, 18, from Lowestoft and a 17-year-old who cannot be named were sentenced yesterday after admitting conspiring to burgle the home of pensioner Freda Timms, in Marston, Oxford.

Mrs Timms' body was found in her semi-detached home in Edgeway Road in November.

After finding evidence of a break-in, police investigated what had killed the 87-year-old.

A post mortem revealed her cause of death was a combination of heart disease and hypothermia.

Reilly was handed an 18-month detention and training order and the 17-year-old was given a 12 month detention and training order.

Anderson was ordered to serve 150 hours community service.

Last night Det Sgt John Linsdell, of Oxford police's burglary team, said: "This was a particularly unpleasant offence where it is likely that the burglars continued to search for valuables despite discovering that the occupant was deceased and still present in the house.

"Freda Timms was elderly and she lived independently.

"The case was particularly distressing for her relatives and was met with shock and disbelief by the residents of Marston."

Mrs Timms was discovered by police after neighbours and a carer became worried.

William Taylor, who lives next door, called the police after a friend of Mrs Timms became concerned.

He told the Oxford Mail the woman knocked on his door because she had not heard from Mrs Timms.

"She had also noticed that one of the upstairs windows was open and the lights were on. We were worried she had collapsed.

"I went round there and I noticed that the window was wide open, which was quite unusual," he said.

Mr Taylor said it looked as if the house had been burgled.

He also said he heard something at about 9.30pm the previous night in the house, but assumed it was Mrs Timms.

Mr Taylor had last seen Mrs Timms the previous week when she walked up and down the road as part of her regular exercise routine.

Police cordoned off the house, part of the pavement, road and neighbouring front gardens as well as a large portion of a road which runs between Edgeway Road and Ferry Road alongside the house.

A white tent was set up in the lane, next to the boundary wall of the property, during the investigation.

Police searched houses in Edgeway Road, Marston Road and Botley Road, following the pensioner's death.