‘Heartbroken over vandalised grave’

A family has been left heartbroken by cruel yobs who have vandalised a grave.
The grave of Taz and Shameem Hussain's mother in Dewsbury cemetery has been vandalised twice in the last 6 monthers. (D525E414)The grave of Taz and Shameem Hussain's mother in Dewsbury cemetery has been vandalised twice in the last 6 monthers. (D525E414)
The grave of Taz and Shameem Hussain's mother in Dewsbury cemetery has been vandalised twice in the last 6 monthers. (D525E414)

Emily Hussain’s grave was attacked just after Mother’s Day – the second time in less than six months.

And her sickened family is now reluctant to replace ornaments and flowers for fear the vandals will strike again.

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Twice they have scattered and smashed tributes and uprooted blooms.

CRUEL VANDALISM Taz and Shameem Hussain with Christine Leeman from the New Friends of Dewsbury Cemetery. (D525B414)CRUEL VANDALISM Taz and Shameem Hussain with Christine Leeman from the New Friends of Dewsbury Cemetery. (D525B414)
CRUEL VANDALISM Taz and Shameem Hussain with Christine Leeman from the New Friends of Dewsbury Cemetery. (D525B414)

“You are trying to grieve and this happens,” said Mrs Hussain’s daughter, Taz. The 35-year-old is particularly angry that CCTV very close to her mother’s resting place seems to have been out of action since Mrs Hussain was buried at Dewsbury Cemetery last September.

After the first attack, Taz contacted Kirklees Council about the CCTV.

“We were told it wasn’t working and it’s still not working,” she said. She is now being helped by the New Friends of Dewsbury Cemetery group.

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For this year’s Mother’s Day in March, the family arranged special mementoes.

“We wanted to pay our respects,” said Taz, a mum of three who lives in Burgh Mill Lane, Dewsbury. Within a week it had happened again.

“Mum’s grave is just by the entrance so I suppose it’s an easy target. Although it looked like other graves have also been attacked.”

She said friends had been ‘wonderful’ in bringing replacements for the smashed ornaments.

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“But I daren’t put them down,” she said. Mrs Hussain lived in Ravens Avenue for more than 30 years.

New Friends of Dewsbury Cemetery co-chairman Paul Edwards said: “Things like this shouldn’t be happening. It is a disgrace. There should be respect. “We are trying to improve security at the cemetery with CCTV etc. Eventually I hope we can this kind of thing happening at all.”

Mr Edwards said his group was talking to Kirklees council about the problem.

A council spokeswoman said: “Acts of vandalism are taken seriously, however, by their nature cemetery sites are difficult to police.”

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