Vandals wreck Telford boy's grave
Vandals have trashed the grave of a nine-year-old Shropshire schoolboy who died from a rare childhood cancer, leaving his family devastated. Vandals have trashed the grave of a nine-year-old Shropshire schoolboy who died from a rare childhood cancer, leaving his family devastated. Yobs ripped down the headstone and threw around toys placed at the graveside of Kyle Beddoes at Wombridge Cemetery in Oakengates, Telford. Today Kyle's mother Tammie Shaw, 27, branded the vandals a "disgrace". Kyle, who lost his fight against neuroblastoma in October 2009, is buried in a joint grave with his uncle, Lee Shaw, who died 31 years ago at the age of one.
Vandals have trashed the grave of a nine-year-old Shropshire schoolboy who died from a rare childhood cancer, leaving his family devastated.
Yobs ripped down the headstone and threw around toys placed at the graveside of Kyle Beddoes at Wombridge Cemetery in Oakengates, Telford.
Today Kyle's mother Tammie Shaw, 27, branded the vandals a "disgrace".
Kyle, who lost his fight against neuroblastoma in October 2009, is buried in a joint grave with his uncle, Lee Shaw, who died 31 years ago at the age of one.
Police said forensic teams had examined the scene in a bid to find any clues in the hunt to catch the offenders.
The grave was targeted some time between midday on Friday and 3pm on Saturday. It is understood the yobs caused about £600 damage to the grave.
Miss Shaw, from Donnington, Telford, said: "I had a phone call from my mum who broke down in tears as she told me what had been found at the gravestone.
"It's not just my son's headstone, it's my brother's as well."
She added: "My mum said the headstone had been trashed and tipped over. I went straight down there but we weren't allowed to touch anything as the police needed to preserve the scene for evidence."
Miss Shaw said: "They've managed to take the whole headstone off that and it's not a small headstone to do that with.
"But we also had a special teddy made for Kyle out of granite to match the Gerrard teddy bear he was buried with and that was even ripped off the bottom of the headstone as well.
"It was such a mess. It upsets me that somebody could do that to a child's grave."
She added: "It looks like the grave has been pinpointed as well because it is not the first grave you come to in the cemetery."
Chris Ammonds, spoke-sman for Telford police, said: "We are eager to bring the offenders to justice.
"This was a thoughtless crime which has caused immense upset to the family involved.
"Anybody who saw anything suspicious at the cemetery between the times should contact Telford police on 0300 333 3000."
By Kirsty Smallman
