Anger after theft from grave of Wellington man
Thieves have stolen a football flag from the grave of a 20-year-old Shropshire man who died after falling off a Spanish mountainside into a freezing river. Thieves have stolen a football flag from the grave of a 20-year-old Shropshire man who died after falling off a Spanish mountainside into a freezing river. Shane Solon's mother, Caroline, today said she was distraught and angry after discovering the red Liverpool FC flag, along with the pole, at his grave at Wellington had been taken. The 45-year-old, of North Road, Wellington, discovered the items had been taken on Saturday afternoon on a daily visit to the Telford & Wrekin Council cemetery. Miss Solon, who has one other son and two daughters, said: "I went on Friday about 4pm. It was there and I cleaned up the grave. "I went there about 5pm on Saturday and they were gone. It's like the flagpole has been dug up. We recently cemented it in because of the weather." She said the flag, along with other items, had been on Shane's grave since his funeral.
Thieves have stolen a football flag from the grave of a 20-year-old Shropshire man who died after falling off a Spanish mountainside into a freezing river.
Shane Solon's mother, Caroline, today said she was distraught and angry after discovering the red Liverpool FC flag, along with the pole, at his grave at Wellington had been taken.
The 45-year-old, of North Road, Wellington, discovered the items had been taken on Saturday afternoon on a daily visit to the Telford & Wrekin Council cemetery.
Miss Solon, who has one other son and two daughters, said: "I went on Friday about 4pm. It was there and I cleaned up the grave.
"I went there about 5pm on Saturday and they were gone. It's like the flagpole has been dug up. We recently cemented it in because of the weather."
She said the flag, along with other items, had been on Shane's grave since his funeral.
Mountains
The former Blessed Robert Johnson pupil, who died in April 2007, had been trekking in the mountains with two friends and apparently slipped as they were descending when the weather took a turn for the worse near the Catalan Pyrenees.
The avid Liverpool Football Club supporter had started work just three weeks earlier as a children's holiday rep.
Miss Solon, who has reported the matter to police, said: "I was there with my sister. She was so shocked. I was just in a state of shock.
"I didn't know how to feel at the time. I was just thinking 'how could somebody do this?'
"You are just about getting stronger and everything and something like this happens.
"I don't know why somebody took it. The grave is in a private corner in the Catholic section, it's quite a small section."
Miss Solon, who is a full-time carer for one of her daughters suffering from cerebral palsy, said: "It's just horrible to think somebody would do it.
"I don't care if they were drunk or not.
"If they have got any morals they would know it's wrong to touch somebody's grave."
Chris Ammonds, Telford police spokesman, confirmed they were investigating the theft and checking whether there was any CCTV footage which might identify the thief.
By Lisa Rowley
