A MOTHER has branded as "disgusting" thieves who stole from the grave of her baby girl.

Rachel Hetherington was heartbroken when her daughter, Briannah, died in January, aged just ten months.

The Northern Echo: STOLEN: The grave of Rachel Hetherington's daughter Briannah in Newton Aycliffe Cemetery. Thieves stole two money boxes from the grave. Picture: STUART BOULTON.

STOLEN: The grave of Rachel Hetherington's daughter Briannah in Newton Aycliffe Cemetery. Thieves stole two money boxes from the grave. Picture: STUART BOULTON.

The 22-year-old had gone into labour eight weeks early in March 2015 and even though she was told her daughter was healthy, Briannah stopped breathing just 24 hours after being brought home from hospital.

Despite being diagnosed with Group B Strep infection and suffering brain damage, the brave tot battled on after being sent home months earlier.

Ms Hetherington, of Newton Aycliffe, said the family decided to buy special flowers, balloons and ornaments for Briannah’s grave to mark her first birthday.

Included in the purchases were two teddy bear shaped money boxes from Briannah’s brother, four-year-old Layton-Lewis.

Ms Hetherington said her son would collect pennies to put into the boxes whenever he visited his little sister’s grave as it helped him with his grief.

“Layton-Lewis put the boxes in himself and every time he was putting all his money in it and he was devastated when he saw it had gone,” she said.

“My little boy is a state saying to me: ‘Why are they taking things I have bought for her?’”

Ms Hetherington, who is also mother to five-month-old Louie-Rae, said :“It’s absolutely disgusting – it’s the lowest of the low.”

She volunteers at the Solan Connor Fawcett Family Cancer Trust shop, in Spennymoor, after being helped by charity founder, Mark Solan, following Briannah’s death.

She said she will now take Layton-Lewis to choose two new boxes for the grave, but would not be leaving any money in them.

“I will just let him put it in and then I or my partner, Grant Watson, will take it out straight after,” she said.

Talking about the thieves she added: “I feel sorry for people like; to get to the point that they have to go and take things from an innocent ten-month-old baby girl that has just died.

“I’m not angry because they can be replaced but people like that don’t deserve a place in society.”

The police are now investigating the incident and appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

PC Michael Moody said: "This is obviously a very distressing time for the family of the little girl. I would like to appeal to anyone who may know the whereabouts of these money boxes to contact me as soon as possible.

“There are quite distinctive and someone must know where they are."

Anyone with information should call the police on 101 quoting incident ref 443 of August 17.