Shock as family members receive text messages from mobile phone buried with late grandmother

South Tyneside:  Lesley Emerson's relatives had put the device in her coffin after her death from bowel cancer aged 59 but were shocked when they began to receive messages from it.

Shocked Sheri Emerson received a message from her beloved dead grandma from 'beyond the grave' - after a cruel prankster was given her old number.

Lesley Emerson, 59, was buried with her mobile phone because she loved to send her loving family text messages.

Granddaughter Sheri and other close family members continued to 'contact' the dead grandma via SMS as a means of coping with their grief.

But a shocked Sheri got a reply telling her: "I'm watching over you, and it's all going to get better.

"Just push through."

Lesley's family was assured her number would never be used again.

But, three years after her death, O2 gave her old number to another customer - who answered the messages thinking they were "jokes" from friends.

The new user then turned prankster - and sent a series of replies when he realised his number once belonged to a dead person.

Sheri's blood ran cold until the new owner confessed.

The 22-year-old care worker from South Shields, South Tyneside, said: "I felt sick when I read it, I was in shock, I didn't know what to think.

"I'd sent a message on Wednesday night telling her about family life and then I got the reply on Thursday.

"Obviously we know that nan wasn't going to ever reply, it was just something we did as a comfort for ourselves, because she loved to text.

"So you can imagine what I was thinking seeing a message flash up from her."

Lesley died died of bowel cancer in July 2011 and was buried with her favourite things in South Shields Harton Cemetery - including her mobile.

During the last three years, Sheri, along with her father John Emerson, 42, and uncle Graham Emerson, 29, have sent messages to Lesley's mobile for comfort.

Phone giants 02 assured them the number would be terminated forever.

But several messages came through last week, with another telling Sheri "not to worry".

She then sent another message asking who sent the text, to which she received the bizarre reply of: "A disturbing vegetarian".

Sheri added: "The person must have realised what was going on and replied that they were sorry."

Sheri's Uncle John contacted Lesley's phone and spoke to a man who said he'd been using her old number for the last few weeks.

John, from Whitburn, South Tyneside, said: "After my mam died I rang 02 and said can I pay to keep her number.

"They said there was no need as they would disconnect it and it would be hers.

"We are a big family of texters, if we ever fell out or had something to say, we'd always just send a message, that's why we buried her with her phone.

"So to think someone else now has our mam's number is just awful, we can't believe 02 has done this.

"I can't bear to visit mum's graveside.

"For me that was a way to still feel connected to her."

02 confirmed that Lesley's number was sold on to phone company giffgaff.

They are trying to retrieve it for the Emerson family.

A spokeswoman from 02 said: "We've been in touch with giffgaff and they have left their customer messages on e-mail.

"At the moment it's a waiting game until he gets back in touch.

"Meanwhile we have spoken to Graham Emerson.

"He understands what's happening and is appreciative that we're trying to get the number back."