Mum’s fury as truck of rubbish is dumped on gran’s grave and tributes are crushed
A FURIOUS MUM was shocked to discover tonnes of rubbish dumped on her gran's grave days after the family decorated it for Christmas.
Catherine Fullbrook, 48, was left in tears at the sight of the truck of rubbish on her grandmother's grave in Dartford, Kent.
Since she was six-months-old Catherine was raised by her grandparents, Kathleen and Bill White.
The mum-of-two from Swanscombe has always considered Kathleen more of a mum than a grandparent.
She told The Sun: "I'd been to visit the grave a few days before and everything was fine.
"We put some decorations on it - a wreath and Christmas flowers - and we de-weeded it to make it look nice for Christmas."
When Catherine's family returned to the cemetery on Tuesday they were horrified to find a truck of rubbish had been dumped on Kathleen's grave.
"They've just swept it all onto my mum's grave," said Catherine.
"I don't think I've stopped crying since 10pm last night.
"It's really hard because she only died two years ago and it's my birthday today and I've been miserable.
"They have no respect. Even the flowers have been taken away."
Kathleen died two years ago at the age of 97 and is buried in the same plot as Catherine's grandfather in Stone Cemetery, St James Lane.
The 48-year-old believes the rubbish was dumped when gravediggers dug up the grave next to her grandmother's.
An officer from the cemetery told Catherine that if anything had been damaged they would reimburse her, but the mum-of-two isn't concerned about the money.
She said: "What upsets me is the way they have handled this.
"It's shocking. I've been going to this cemetery for 43 years and I've never witnessed anything like this.
"It's just devastated me."
Dartford Borough Council said the incident occurred under an "unusual circumstance" and that cemetery staff are incredibly sensitive to the feelings of visiting loved ones.
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A spokesperson said: "It was an unfortunate unusual situation, we were required to reopen an existing grave that was closely surrounded by others and we used a soil hopper that spanned the neighbouring grave but made no contact with it.
"We understand it could be distressing for families visiting during that period but the grave itself is undamaged and we will reinstate the tributes and memorials in a few hours.
"We have been in contact with the family and they were accepting of our apology."
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