Wirral family shocked to find relative’s grave covered in tyre marks from council digger

The damage to the grave at council-run Landican Cemetery was caused by a digger which was preparing a burial ground for a nearby grave.

The accident has caused huge stress for the family of the man buried at the site.

Craig and his partner Kayleigh

Craig Robinson was just 27 when he died in September.

Craig’s partner, Kayleigh Rutter said: “They dug a hole foot to foot with my boyfriend and then realised they had dug the hole the wrong side and drove over my partner’s grave with the diggers.

“And they walked all over his grave, [I know this] as there were big footprints where his head is and I think it is absolutely disgraceful.”

The damage was discovered on Tuesday night by one of Kayleigh’s relatives.

Kayleigh and the rest of Craig’s family were “heartbroken” when they found out.

The grave before the shocking incident

As soon as they heard what had happened, they went to Landican Cemetery to observe the damage themselves.

Kayleigh added: “This is the only place I can come and pay my respects to my partner and this has caused so much upset for myself, Craig’s mum and his nine brothers and sisters.”

Before it was damaged, Kayleigh said she worked with Craig’s brother to make the grave look “amazing.”

She continued: “We worked so hard, bought all the topsoil and did the grave. We moved it all down to 18 inches.

“There were lots of ornaments on there, as well as lights and birthday cards.

“My brother in law’s girlfriend went there on Tuesday and the people from Landican have ruined it.”

Kayleigh thought this showed a serious “lack of respect for the deceased.”

The cemetery is managed by Wirral Council.

Cllr Julie McManus, cabinet member for community services, said: “Firstly I wish to extend my condolences and indeed my apologies to this family.

“Unfortunately, when preparing for a burial in a nearby grave, the tributes from this grave have been damaged and the ground, disturbed.

“This is something that our staff try to avoid but, when using machinery in narrow spaces and with the recent poor weather conditions, this was more difficult than usual.

“Our staff have met with the family today to reassure them that the grave, which would usually have been returned to its previous state by the following morning, is being restored as we speak, with a member of our team picking up materials to replace two lanterns this evening in her own time.

“We have also notified them that the area around the grave and headstone has now been returned to the condition that we would have expected it to be in.

"I hope this brings the family further comfort.”