Worksop: Grieving mother’s horror and anguish as ornament is stolen from baby’s grave

The ornament that was stole from baby Austin Hodges' grave

Rachel Hodges, of Worksop, went to visit the grave of her son Austin James at Hannah Park cemetery on Mother’s Day and discovered that a ornament – an infant sleeping in angel wings – had been stolen

And Mrs Hodges said she could not believe someone could be so callous as to commit such an act.

“I cannot describe how sad and an upset I felt, seeing that someone could do such a terrible thing,” she said.

“When I saw what had happened, I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach.”

Austin, who died in November 2012, is buried in the same plot as his grandfather John Saunders, making the pain of the theft even harder to bear for Rachel.

“There were three ornaments on the grave, two for his granddad and one that was clearly for Austin and that’s the one that has been stolen,” she continued.

“I’m just horrified someone could do such an awful thing.”

“Austin was a very much loved and wanted baby boy who I think about every single day.”

“My husband and I are very fortunate to now have five beautiful children who are our absolute world.”

“Mother’s Day is a wonderful day for me to celebrate being blessed with my children.”

“So people can only begin to imagine how angry and upset I and my family are that something like this has happened.”

The incident is the second theft from a child’s grave at the cemetery this year after some rosary beads were stolen from another grave at the end of January.

There are now security patrols or CCTV cameras installed at the cemetery , which is maintained by Bassetlaw Council, who said they would not comment on the incident and instead preferred to leave matters in the hands of the police.

In the meantime, the family have appealed for the ornament to be returned.

Anyone with any information should call Rachel Hodges on 07970 786635.