Young mother's gravestone vandalised

Police are looking for the culprits responsible for vandalising a young mother's gravestone.

Claire Wealleans, from Ashington in Northumberland, died in 2022 at the age of 43 with a rare form of cancer.

Her sister Jade Armstrong said the destruction of Ms Wealleans's gravestone at the town's St John's Church had felt like "losing Claire all over again".

Northumbria Police Insp Wayne Daniels said the attack was "despicable" and the force would do everything in its power to "bring those responsible for such a sickening crime" to justice.

Ms Armstrong said it looked like a sledgehammer had been used to break her sister's gravestone and it appeared targeted.

The police said the attack occurred sometime between 15 August and 5 September.

It has been just more than two years since her sister died, said Ms Armstrong.

She said the family had not told her sister's two children, aged 5 and 17, about the attack.

"It's hard enough for us to try and wrap our heads around it," she said.

Ms Armstrong said the family were waiting on a new gravestone to be made but it was taking longer than expected.

"We hope to have one up by Christmas," she said.

She said the family were really confused about why it had happened.

"We don't know if it's going to happen again," she said. "It's kind of like walking on eggshells."

Northumbria Police said anyone with information should contact the force.

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