A WOMAN has said she is “sickened” after thieves raided a cemetery and stole granite from her late father’s grave.

Upset Clare Scovell said the theft is “downright evil” and is now costing her family £3,000.

The 44-year-old health and safety advisor has spoken out about the theft in the hopes of finding those culpable for the crime.

'The grave was reopened'

She said: “I can’t take anymore, this is enough.

"When I saw the grave for the first time (after the granite was stolen), I almost fell to my knees and I felt physically sick.

Daily Echo: Barbara Harvell (left) with her daughter Clare Scovell at Fred Harvell's grave in Eastleigh Cemetery Barbara Harvell (left) with her daughter Clare Scovell at Fred Harvell's grave in Eastleigh Cemetery

“It was like the grave had been reopened, I felt sickened and disgusted.”

“It’s going to take six months to replace the granite and cost £3,000.”

READ MORE: Granite grave top stolen from cemetery

The 6ft long plinth was stolen from the grave of Clare’s father, Fred Harvell, at Eastleigh Cemetery between Tuesday, July 19 and Tuesday, August 2.

Fred died in May 2017 and it has taken three years for the grave to be finally completed.

Clare has since replaced the missing granite with pieces of slate. 

Daily Echo: Fred Harvell's grave in Eastleigh Cemetery Fred Harvell's grave in Eastleigh Cemetery

Since an investigation was launched at the beginning of August, no suspects have been identified.

Clare said: “It has been bad news after bad news, so it’s been absolutely horrendous.

“How can somebody do this? It’s awful and downright evil.”

'I went hysterical'

Her mother and Fred’s widow Barbara Harvell visits the cemetery every two weeks.

Mrs Harvell’ visited the grave on Tuesday, August 2 and to her horror found the granite gone.

The 70-year-old said: “I was sat on the bench opposite the graves cutting the roses down before I got up and walked across to Fred’s grave.

Daily Echo: Fred Harvell's grave in Eastleigh Cemetery. The marks show where the granite was stolen from. Fred Harvell's grave in Eastleigh Cemetery. The marks show where the granite was stolen from.

“At first, I thought I must be at the wrong grave and then I saw what happened.

“I went hysterical. I phoned Clare sobbing saying the granite on the grave has gone.

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“This has affected me terribly. You never get over grief, but you move on.

“I was coping with my life but this has taken me right back to when Fred died.

“Nobody can comprehend this. Someone must have calculated and thought about what they were doing.

“I want the people who stole the granite to realise how much heartache this has caused our family.”

A fundraiser has seen £1,275 donated for the family so far. See gofundme.com/f/to-replace-desecrated-grave

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