A GRIEVING mother is devastated after thieves vandalised her son’s grave.

Phoebe Harris, 25, who tragically lost her baby son Jake three years ago, discovered on Monday that ornaments had been stolen and the headstone of his grave was damaged.

Jake’s grave, which is in City Cemetery in Bear Road, Brighton, was previously full of toys and commemorative ornaments, but thieves have left it bare.

The headstone also has a red mark on it from where vandals removed and stole a red picket fence, which had surrounded the grave.

Ms Harris, of Twineham Close, Brighton, said: “I’m just devastated. It’s disgusting. We called police and the cemetery, but they’ve said there’s nothing they can do.”

Phoebe’s mother Tracey Harris, 53, also of Twineham Close, said: “When we went up there on Monday it was totally wrecked.

“The red fence had been taken down and there are marks on the headstone where they must have lifted it up.

“All the toys were stolen, and some of them were brand new.

“I’m devastated.”

Jake suffered from epilepsy and died of a severe brain disorder known as epileptic encephalopathy on March 12, 2016, at just 19 months old.

Phoebe believes CCTV should be installed in graveyards to deter vandals.

She said: “I think it’s wrong that they have no cameras up there.

“I’d like to make it nice again, but now I’m scared it might happen again.”

Phoebe’s partner, who did not wish to be named, said: “I’ve never seen anything like it.

“She’s made it all nice for him and it’s just been trashed— they’ve ruined it.

“Phoebe paid a lot of money for the headstone, and you can’t get compensation.”

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “People generally behave with great respect in burial grounds and we have very little vandalism reported in any of our cemeteries.

“This is the first report of deliberate damage to a grave we have had for a number of years. Due to vandalism being so rare, CCTV is not something the council has considered to be necessary.

“Staff on-site were made aware of the situation, and were told that the police had been informed about the incident.

“We have checked other graves at the cemetery and cannot find any evidence of further vandalism.”

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “At 12.54pm on Monday we received a report that damage and theft had occurred at a grave in Bear Road cemetery, Brighton.

“Full details have been recorded but there were no viable lines of enquiry including no CCTV, so further investigation is not currently possible.”

Anyone with information should call 101, and quote 601 for October 14.

Phoebe has now set up a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to replace stolen items. To donate visit gofundme.com/f/jake-harris-19-months-old.