POLICE have condemned a vandal attack in a town’s cemetery as "despicable.”
The grave of a 90-year-old grandmother in the cemetery at Norton, near Malton, was targeted with silk flowers removed and a card ripped to pieces.
Dorothy Gant died in December and her grave was targeted less than a month after she was buried in the cemetery.
Her daughter Liz Harrison said: "The flowers were placed in two floats so it was impossible for them to blow away and my daughter had also left a card which had been taken out of its envelope and torn in half.
"She had gone to the grave with her own five-year-old daughter and was very upset to see that the card had been ripped up and thrown around the cemetery.
"My mother's grave is out on a limb so we are now going to the cemetery on a daily basis to check that everything is okay."
Last September the grave of a 10-year-old boy was also targeted by vandals and further damage was caused to his and a neighbouring grave in November.
A police spokesman said: "To steal items such as flowers and belongings which hold special memories from a grave is a despicable crime.
"To willingly cause such upset to grieving families, relatives and friends is a hurtful and shameful thing to do.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here