SICK thieves burgled the house of a man who died after a confrontation with youths, the Argus can reveal.

Simon Gibbons, pictured, collapsed after confronting a gang of youths when a stone was thrown at his car, on Newport's Duffryn estate, on Wednesday. He later died at the Royal Gwent Hospital.

Now detectives have confirmed that Mr Gibbons' home in Swallow Way was broken into on Friday. A television set and clothing were taken.

Mr Gibbons collapsed as he returned to his vehicle in Tredegar House Drive, opposite Mallard Way and Sandpiper Way, at about 7.30pm. The results of a post mortem examination, to determine the cause of death, are still awaited.

Today, Detective Chief Inspector Bryan Wilson, of Newport police, told the Argus the burglary was "outrageous".

He added: "The family have had to cope with the death of a loved one and a son and when we then have to go and tell them his house has been broken into and property stolen you can imagine the impact it has on his family. Every offence of house burglary is outrageous. Imagine having to go to the family of a man who has recently died and tell them his house has been burgled since he died."

DCI Wilson thanked the residents of Duffryn for coming forward with eye-witness reports and urged anyone with information to call 01633 838111.

Tredegar Park councillor Garry Brown told the Argus he was disgusted by the burglary. "I thought, my goodness, some people must be sick to go and do something like this.

"Burglary is bad enough - but under these circumstances. Whoever did it must be sick in the head.

"And those who might receive these stolen goods are just as bad," he said.

"What on earth is going is going on down here?

"There are so many good people in this area but it's always the bad ones that hit the headlines."

Yesterday, the Argus revealed that another Duffryn resident, Douglas Forshaw, of Sandpiper Way, suffered a stroke after he was abused by a gang of youths in the same area and on the same night as Mr Gibbons. Police are investigating the incident but are not linking it with Mr Gibbons' death.

* Early this morning police carried out a number of raids on the Duffryn estate and arrested eight people in connection with Mr Gibbons' death.

The youths, aged 14-20, will be questioned throughout the day.