The teenage mum of a young baby who died shortly after birth has condemned the people who trashed her grave.
Imogen Goodwin's daughter died at 20-weeks-old in February, having suffered from a rare condition.
She was Butterfly Garden at Carmountside Crematorium, Stoke in March, Stoke Sentinel reported.
Recently vandals and thieves have ripped open helium balloons and turned off solar lights that were left at the grave in repeated attacks.
The 19-year-old mum has been left distraught by the heartless attacks and has called on Stoke-on-Trent City Council to install CCTV at the crematorium to try and catch those responsible.
Imogen, from Newchapel, said: “It’s so important for me to go down there and put this stuff down for her. I don’t have any other children.
"She is my little girl. I should be buying clothes and nappies but I can’t so that is my way of looking after her.
“In my head, she plays with them because she is there. They are her things. I feel angry, really upset and disappointed that someone would do that to a baby's garden.”
The young mum listed all the damage that has been done.
“Losing my daughter was the worst thing I’ve ever had to go through," she said.
"I’ve been getting helium balloons and tying them to shepherd hooks and stuff.
"It has happened to five balloons. They’ve all been cut so all the helium has come out.
“There’s a little girl next door and she had a big balloon which was all tangled in my daughter's windmill.
"People say it’s the wind but there’s no way. It’s like someone had picked up my girl’s windmill and tied up all the balloons from next door to it.
“She’s had things stolen. All the solar lights have been turned off before. I like to go at night just to say goodnight to her and see her lights.
"She has these little bulbs that light up. It’s like someone took off the top and clicked it off so they don’t turn on. Some of the lights have been broken.
“Her windmill has been snapped. She had a shepherd's hook where you hang things on and one of them was moved completely. She had this wind chime and part of it was undone and left.
Imogen went on to urge the council to put CCTV cameras in to deter the vandals.
“All I want is cameras," she continued.
"I understand there's privacy and stuff. I wouldn’t want a camera watching me as I’m talking to my daughter. I like to sit with her for a few hours.
"But I think cameras do need to be there. I don’t understand who could do that. If people see cameras they will know they are being watched and won’t do it.
“We would feel less worried knowing that our children are safe. That’s what all parents want. Just because they are not here, we still have to keep them safe.
“I want them to know that it’s so sickening what they are doing. How can they do that to a baby’s garden? I just want them to stop.
“Someone who has a child with them their job is to protect them. I am still her mum and that’s my way of protecting her.
“I shouldn’t have to do that. I shouldn’t have to go home feeling distressed because something has happened to her garden or because she has got nothing on her grave.
“If I left her with nothing on her grave I’d be heartbroken. I don’t sleep as it is but having nothing on her grave would make it 10 times worse.
“It gets me so anxious because I go every day to see her and when I turn a corner I think I hope nothing has happened. It’s becoming a joke.”
The council has condemned any anti-social behaviour at the crematorium.
A council spokesman said: “We absolutely condemn the actions of those who undertake such mindless acts. These cause nothing but hurt for the friends and family of the deceased.
“We are aware that items do unfortunately go missing or get damaged by the weather and, while it is completely understandable that many families choose to place sentimental items on graves such as small ornaments and plaques, we do ask families not to do so.
"At the time a funeral is arranged, families are given information outlining what can and cannot be placed on graves. Sadly, cemeteries are not exempt from anti-social behaviour and are often quite exposed to wind and rain.
"If anyone sees suspicious behaviour at any of our cemeteries I would urge them to speak to a member of staff, or report the matter directly to the police.”
