A woman has spoken of her devastation at discovering her late husband's gravestone has been stolen from a Swansea cemetery.
Neil Thomas died aged 43 on June 6, 2008 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
His gravestone, engraved with the Prince of Wales' feathers and the Welsh dragon emblems, was placed at Cwmgelli Cemetery in Treboeth.
But earlier this month his widow Debra Thomas devastating news.
"My friend phoned me and told me that the stone had gone," Mrs Thomas said.
"I was completely and utterly devastated. I work as a support worker and I had to come home from work.
"I was completely in disbelief, all sorts of emotions set in.
"I went up myself to have a look, and I phoned up the cemetery and the police and they went to see for themselves too.
"They told me nobody had ever heard of something like this ever happening before."
The headstone of Mr Thomas, who was also known as 'Benny', describes him as a devoted husband and father, a cherished son and son-in-law.
It has a verse on it which reads: 'Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there I do not sleep.
'I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush. I am the swift uplifting rush.
'Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand there at my grave any cry. I am not there. I did not die.'
Mrs Thomas described how the theft had brought grief to her entire family.
"It's so disrespectful. Neil's best friend is a stonemason and he designed his gravestone, I was proud of it, it was beautiful," the 53-year-old of Gendros said.
"I still can't believe it. I can't describe how I feel. My sons are devastated too.
"My husband's stone has a beautiful verse on it, and there is nothing anyone can do with that stone."
A South Wales Police spokeswoman said: "We are appealing for information after a report of a stolen headstone from Cwmgelli Cemetery in Treboeth.
"Although the crime was reported to us on August 24 it is believed the theft may have taken place on August 11.
"Anyone with information should contact 101 or report online at bit.ly/SWPReport or email publicservicecentre@south-wales.pnn.police.uk quoting occurrence 2000309671."
