Sick vandals smash flower pots and chip headstone in SIXTH attack on dead toddler's grave in six months

Persistent targets: Patrick, who died shortly before his third birthday, is buried yards from his grandparents
Maxine O'Mara-Roberts
Sebastian Mann28 October 2015
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A grief-stricken mother from south-west London has been forced to "relive" the trauma of her toddler son's tragic death 21 years ago after sick vandals defaced his grave for the sixth time in six months.

Flower pots were smashed and roses viciously clipped at Patrick O'Mara-Roberts' headstone in Teddington Cemetery in the latest attack on Monday.

The image of a teddy bear, a nod to the child's favourite toy before his untimely death at the age of just two years and 11 months, has also been chipped, his mother Maxine said. Her late parents' shared grave nearby has been repeatedly targeted too.

Speaking to the Standard today, she said: "I've relived his death this year. It's brought everything back, all the hurt and the pain."

The 48-year-old dinner lady lost her child in December 1994 when he died from septicemia. He was born with a congenitive heart defect, a missing spleen, liver in the wrong place as well as two right-formed lungs and was conceived after his mother was warned she may never have children.

For more than 20 years his grave stood untouched, with Ms O'Mara-Roberts making regular visits to the one place she would find solace to plant flowers in the soil in front of his headstone.

But in May this year vandals began to strike. On four separate occasions in May and June, police were called to investigate thefts or criminal damage at the grave after some 20 ornaments were stolen, pots were smashed and a picture of Patrick was defaced.

Baby Patrick died in 1994

Police made an arrest on June 29, but enquiries resulted in no further action.

However the vandalism stopped, and Ms O'Mara-Roberts hoped that was it, until someone attacked the graves again on August 14.

When they were targeted on Monday evening, it was the sixth time since the beginning of May.

Maxine and brother James, 17, at Patrick's grave in Teddington before it was targeted

"It gets worse because this August I thought it was over with," said Ms O'Mara-Roberts, who has a 17-year-old son.

"I didn't think I had justice, but I thought it was over with. So this now - it makes me feel sick.

"And I still have no idea who is behind it. I don't know why anyone would do this to anybody."

Vandalism: On two earlier occasions a picture on the headstone of Patrick has been defaced
Maxine O'Mara-Roberts

She added: "I personally think they need some medical help. If I saw them I'd just say 'you've no idea of the pain and anguish you're causing'.

"It's really hard to put into words just how hurtful it is."

In addition to the emotional cost, Ms O'Mara-Roberts estimates she has spent about £600 replacing flowers and ornaments thanks to the persistent damage.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman today said no further action was taken following a 56-year-old woman's arrest in June because there was "insufficient evidence".

But she added the Ms O'Mara-Roberts latest report was being investigated afresh.

Contact police on 101 with any information.

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