7:00am Saturday 28th August 2010
By Lewis Cowen
Police have appealed for information after the headstones of two children were damaged at Devizes Cemetery.
The mothers of Charlie Barnett and Callum Mortimer had gone to the adjoining graves last Wednesday, Charlie’s birthday, to put flowers on the grave.
They were horrified to see the headstones strapped to two temporary wooden props.
Julie Barnett, Charlie’s mother and Callum’s grandmother, said: “We couldn’t believe our eyes. No other gravestones were affected, just Charlie’s and Callum’s. I just don’t understand who could have done this.
“We are all very upset about this, particularly as there seems no reason behind it.”
The vandalism came a few days after the family, from Bromham, reached agreement with the Devizes and Roundway joint burial committee, which administers the cemetery, over a little memorial garden they had created in front of the two graves.
They have now halved its size and moved the toys and ornaments closer to the headstones.
Mrs Barnett lost Charlie at the age of three in 1996. He had a heart condition from birth.
Her daughter and Charlie’s sister, Kylie Mortimer, lost her son Callum to a respiratory infection in March 2008 at the age of two.
Devizes deputy town clerk Simon Fisher said cemetery staff were horrified to have come upon the damage.
He said: “They had gone up to lay turf to cover the area of garden that the family had cleared to make maintenance of the graves easier.
“The two headstones had been pushed, or pulled, right back. It would have taken some doing as they were well anchored into the ground.
“We didn’t have a phone number for the family, so we have written to them to let them know what has happened and what action we have taken.”
Devizes police have been informed and have appealed for information from the public.
Sergeant Ian Thomas said: “We are investigating but as yet there are no witnesses or ideas as to who did it. Any damage to gravestones is a spiteful and despicable act.
“The fact that it is to the graves of two children makes it even more abhorrent and would rightly cause consternation from the local community.
“I would ask that if anyone has any information for them to contact us and I am determined that those responsible will be dealt with accordingly.”
Devizes police can be contacted on 0845 408 7000 or information can be given to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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