A HEARTBROKEN family has hit out at those who are stealing items left at a local cemetery in memory of her son.

Alastair Thomas, known as Ali, was diagnosed with type one diabetes at the age of 21 and died suddenly at the age of 35 after spending five days in ICU on October 2, 2018 at the Countess of Chester hospital.

A memorial bench has been placed in Flint Cemetery but mum Dee Pinnington said items, such as flowers, cards and a teddy bear, have been taken – which has been ongoing since March.

She told the Leader: “The items have all been taken away from Ali's bench in Flint cemetery which was dedicated to Ali by myself, his step-father Paul (Pinnington), his Father David (Thomas) and Ali's brother Chris (Thomas).

The Leader:

Ali Thomas

“These gifts were for Ali and it is distressing to think that someone would be so cruel as to remove these items which were left in his memory.

“It’s adding to our grief, it’s all very distressing. You see other benches being covered with items and it’s really hard. We put things there for Ali, it’s really sad.

“It’s sad for Ali as well, they are gifts for him. How can anyone stoop so low to take from a person who has died?

“Anyone that would do this has to be really sick. Some of these things are cable tied so someone has had to take scissors to remove them, they haven’t just been taken.

"If we find out who did this, it will be reported to the police."

Ali, who was a pupil at St Richard Gwyn in Flint, followed his dream to be a musician after completing his studies.

The Leader:

The local rock star travelled across the UK to perform at various events as a soloist and as a duo in ‘The Statements’ and a group called ‘Universal Exports’.

After his death, a fundraiser was launched to raise funds to help in the fight of raising awareness of Type One diabetes.

Mrs Pinnington said she wanted to raise awareness of the ‘lonely battle’ in the hopes of saving lives.

She added: “We’ve been doing a lot in his memory, he was very well known in the area and we are still involved in fundraising.

“We are having discussions with the hospital in respect of the money we raised last year to create an educational programme for those who live and work with someone with Type one.

“We miss him all the time, it’s a huge loss and has left a massive hole in our lives.

“He was a great man, really kind to people and very humble. Someone said at his funeral that Ali didn’t try to be rock and roll, he just was and he would do anything for anyone.

“Ali has friends who visit the bench and sit there and play the guitar and sing for Ali.

“I would also like to thank people who have given donations to us in his memory.”