A mother has branded the thieves who stole toys from her son's grave as 'sick and heartless'.

Andrena Brightman was left distraught after toys and gifts were taken from her son Jamie's grave at Headington Cemetery in Dunstan Road.

Jamie died two years ago at the age of five after suffering from a brain tumour.

He had battled against the condition for two years.

Since his death, members of Jamie's family have remem- bered the courageous youngster on Christmas and birthdays by placing small toys, particularly his favourite Disney characters, near the headstone.

(WED) She discovered yesterday that toys including a plastic Dalmatian, a china angel, a Winnie-the-Pooh toy and a glass snow-storm had been taken.

Ms Brightman, 27, of Hundred Acres Close, Headington, said both she and Jamie's father James Sutherland had been disgusted by the theft. She described the thieves as "sick and heartless" saying: "Just because Jamie's not here, it doesn't mean he can't have little presents. "I just want them to feel really bad. You don't steal from the dead, least of all from a child that fought cancer for two years.

"There's a photograph on the headstone of Jamie and they knew full well it was a child's grave. It makes me sick."

She urged those responsible to replace the stolen toys saying: "If they had a conscience they would put them back. If I found they had been returned I would be over the moon."

An Oxford police spokesman said: "It is a despicable crime against a family who just want to remember their lost child."

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