Thieves steal second flag from Telford man's grave

Thieves have stolen a Liverpool Football Club flag from next to the grave of a 20-year-old Wellington man for the second time in just eight months.

The flag went missing from Shane Solon's grave in the cemetery off Linden Avenue, Wellington.

Shane died in April, 2007, when he fell off a Spanish mountainside into a freezing river.

The original flag, along with its pole, was taken by thieves last September, forcing Shane's family to replace it. Now that replacement has been stolen after thieves struck some time between noon last Wednesday and noon the following day.

Shane's mother, Caroline, today said she was distraught and angry after discovering the red flag had been taken again.

The 46-year-old, of North Road, Wellington, discovered it had been taken on her daily visit to the Telford & Wrekin Council cemetery last Thursday.

Miss Solon, who has one other son and two daughters, today said: "Not only did they take the flag but they loosened the pole getting it off and smashed a solar light on Shane's grave.

"There are no words for these people. They are the lowest of the low."

The former Blessed Robert Johnson pupil was trekking in the mountains with two friends and apparently slipped as they were descending when the weather took a turn for the worse. The avid Liverpool Football Club supporter started work just three weeks earlier as a holiday rep.

Telford police spokesman Chris Ammonds said: "Although the flag itself was only worth around £20, the family of the man whose grave it was stolen from are, understandably, very upset."

Anyone with information should call police on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers, on 0800 111555.