Mum confronts woman who stole flowers from her son's grave on 10th anniversary
A grieving mum who had laid flowers on her son’s grave on the anniversary of his death was devastated when they were later stolen.
Donna Dixon, 45, had attended the cemetery in June last year to honour her son Keiran who had died suddenly aged 14 in 2012.
She later discovered the flowers were stolen 30 minutes after she had laid them on the grave and, thanks to a message to a friend, tracked down the woman responsible.
However the thief - Leanne Slater, 39, - refused to answer her questions.
Slater was found guilty of theft and failing to surrender to police/ court bail. She failed to attend court and her solicitor withdrew from the case and magistrates issued a warrant, Teesside Live reported.
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Leanne Slater stole flowers from Durham Road cemetery in Stockton (The Gazette)
Flowers on Keith's graveside were stolen 30 minutes after his mother laid them down (Donna Dixon)Donna, from Stockton said: "It's appalling to even stoop that low.
“It's not nice to steal anything but from a cemetery it's just disgusting. It was such a kick in the teeth the flowers had only been on his garden for half an hour and it was his tenth memorial.
"He was a popular kid so everyone knew where the flowers had come from so we were just absolutely gutted. It made me sick to my stomach.
"I understand people have problems but it just leaves you speechless to think people would do that."
During the trial prosecutor Anne Mitchell said: "Enquiries were made and the location of the female was established.
"Donna Dixon then attended the location and found the defendant and detained her until police arrived. She was wearing the same clothing as the female pictured leaving the cemetery with the flowers."
The court heard Slater, of Durham Road, Stockton, was interviewed by but gave no reply to all questions. At an earlier hearing she pleaded not guilty.
Giving evidence, Donna said when she saw the picture she got in her car and looked for the defendant, she said: "I saw her wearing the same coat and got out and confronted her. She just denied she had been anywhere near."
The mum said she instantly recognised the defendant as they had grown up together.
She hopes the case will serve as a warning to others not to steal from cemeteries, she said: "She might just get a slap on the wrist but it might put the message out to others to say please don't do that. It's someone's loved one.
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“He's not here anymore, I can't buy him presents so the closest thing I can do is keep his garden looking lovely."
It is not the first time the youngster's grave has been targeted after vandals smashed a memorial tree planted in his honour in 2015.
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