Lowest of the low - thieves steal a plaque from the grave of a 14 year old Neale Wade student.

Joshua Warby was a popular student among his peers said Neale Wade principal Jason Wing. (Image: Archant)

They visited his grave this week to find his memorial plaque has been stolen and memorabilia dumped in a nearby bin.

The plaque for Joshua Warby is gone but the surround for it was found thrown in a bush.

His mum Lisa said: “Whoever has taken it please just bring it back.”

The theft and vandalism was described as disgraceful by town councillor Rob Skoulding.

Joshua Warby was a popular year 10 student at Neale Wade (Image: Archant)

“If anybody finds out who did this they should be named and shamed,” he said.

“Nobody thinks they will ever have to bury their child but to have this level of disrespect in our small community just weeks after his death is terrible.”

Joshua’s aunty Emma Elmore said: “I went to Joshua’s grave on Tuesday at about mid day. I took his dog and made a video of the toys, key rings and memory things that had been placed on his grave.

“I then came back at 3.30pm to find the stuff had been chucked in a bin and the plaque made by Turners was gone.

“Some of Joshua’s friends helped us search the cemetery which is when we found the plaque surround chucked in a bush outside.

“The actual inner plaque itself is still missing.

“A wrist band was taken a few weeks ago but we let it go as it was such a small thing, but to have this happen now is not only pointless it is upsetting.

“We are making it look lovely for everyone as we know his grave gets a lot of visitors. We’re hurt and we want people to know how wrong this is.

“I have some other special things I want to put down there but how can we now?”

It is not the first time that Joshua’s mum Lisa has suffered the heart break of having a grave vandalised.

Her son Jack was born premature at 21 weeks, three years after Joshua was born, and his grave was also targeted at Eastwood cemetery.

Emma said: “Lisa is so strong and I admire her so much for how she his coping with Joshua’s death, thank goodness for her daughter Skye who is amazing at keeping her going.

“A cemetery is one place you never think somebody would stoop so low to steal from. This attack is the lowest of the low. Lisa just wants whoever has taken this to please bring it back.”

• Year 10 student Joshua died in March which prompted a Just Giving page that raised more than £2,000 for his family and more than £700 raised for the Samaritans through the sale of hand made pin ribbons in his memory.

A spokesman for Fenland District Council said: “We sympathise with what has happened and will continue to monitor security measures at our cemeteries to ensure they remain open and accessible to all.”