A FATHER has spoken of his heartbreak after his 13-year-old son’s grave was ransacked by vandals – who left cherished mementoes smashed to pieces.

Carl Hobbs, of Thames View, Abingdon, visited the town’s cemetery in Spring Gardens on Wednesday, but found his son Jonathan’s grave had been devastated.

The memorial was attacked by vandals who also targeted a number of other graves.

Jonathan, a former Larkmead School pupil, suffered from epilepsy and died suddenly in June 2007.

Mr Hobbs, who is retired from the army, said: “It was heartbreaking. It is absolutely devastating that someone could do that to my boy.

“It’s bad enough having lost my son of 13 on Father’s Day, but for somebody to do that to me is terrible.

“There are pictures of him on the headstone and his age is there as well. It beggars belief.”

Mr Hobbs, 45, and wife Joanne, 44, visit the grave as often as twice a day, along with Jonathan’s four brothers and sisters.

They collect Chelsea Football Club memorabilia to place on the grave of the football-mad teenager.

But trinkets such as plastic football boots, a Chelsea Football Club money box and lanterns were smashed, while plastic flowers placed on the headstone were leftstrewn across the cemetery.

Mr Hobbs said: “To do that to any grave, let alone a young person’s grave, is lower than low in my opinion.

“It’s just pure bloody-minded vandalism. There must be something wrong with them mentally, to do something like this in a sacred place like that.”

At least three gravestones were damaged in the attack on Tuesday – which took place between 4.30 and 8pm.

A window in the Chapel of Rest was also smashed.

Ch Insp Andy Boyd, police commander for the Vale of White Horse, said: “I am disgusted that people could be so selfish and thoughtless.

“The families who visit and attend the graves are distraught that something like this could happen.

“I would like to appeal directly to those responsible to think about what they have done and come forward.”

Steve Rich, Abingdon Town Council’s project manager, estimated the vandalism could cost the council up to £2,000 to repair.

He said: “It’s very upsetting because the cemetery is a very special place and holds memories for people.

“Some people visit the graves often. We have every sympathy with the families.”

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Pc Shane Hedges, at Abingdon Police Station, on 0845 8505505, or can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

abingdon@oxfordmail.co.uk