A HULL woman has been left devastated after thieves stole two ornaments from a memorial to her son. Sheena Gibson lost Andrew Richardson nine years ago when he was 26.
She set up the memorial in the garden of her home in Goodrich Close, off Beverley Road, a place father-of-two Mr Richardson loved.
Thieves targeted her garden in the early hours of Sunday morning and stole two Rastafarian ornaments and the top part of a water fountain.
Mrs Gibson, 51, said: "I was crying all day after I discovered what had happened.
"It wouldn't be so bad if they were just normal ornaments but this was from the memorial garden to my son so they mean a lot more.
"I was mortified. This feels like a real violation.
"The next night I kept the television on all night to make it look as if someone was still up as I feared they would return.
"It hasn't just affected me. My grandson, who is just 11 years old, is also really upset by what has happened to his dad's memorial.
"We only recently had a new fence fitted but they climbed over from a neighbour's property."
Mrs Gibson is baffled by how the thieves managed to remove the stolen items.
She said: "The ornaments were both about 1ft-high and the fountain part was very heavy. I've no idea how they got it over the fence but it must have taken at least two people."
Mrs Gibson said she will struggle to buy new items for the memorial.
She said: "I would say the stolen items cost about £300.
"I am a single parent with a disabled son and I can't afford to replace them."
Mr Richardson was found dead in Hull Prison in 2005 from a suspected drugs overdose. An investigation was launched after he was discovered in his cell.
Mr Richardson was on remand at the time on charges of burglary.
Mrs Gibson said: "Andrew was a naughty boy but he was loved by everyone.
"We set up the memorial because he loved the garden and was out there all the time.
"Hundreds turned up to his funeral and he had a lot of friends. He was also a brilliant dad and was very funny."
Humberside Police confirmed they are investigating the theft. A spokesman said: "The ornaments are a grey stone garden water fountain, about 3ft and another featuring two Rastafarian-style figures wearing brightly coloured rasta hats, about 1ft high."
Anyone with information should call police on 101.
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