A GRIEVING mother said she feels like she lost her son twice after the council removed his memorial without notice.

Penny Dean’s son, Ollie Roberts, took his own life in January. His body was found in Middle Chine, which is where his family decided to set up a memorial for him.

Penny said: “When he died, we decided to visit and lay some flowers, and his brother made him a wooden cross with his name on it.

“Although it’s the place where he was in the most pain, it’s a place I feel connected to and where he found peace.

“I visited three to four times a week and it’s a place where his ten-year-old son could go and talk to his daddy.”

On the eight-month anniversary of Ollie’s death, his son wanted to ‘be with daddy’. They arrived to find everything gone.

Upon investigation, they discovered a handwritten note from BCP Council in a ‘very wet’ plastic wallet stating that they received complaints and were forced to remove the memorial.

Penny said: “I felt like it had been grave robbed.

“My grandson broke down and cried, I tried to give him reassurance, but we were both absolutely devastated.”

A collection of notes, fathers day and birthday cards was kept at the memorial as well as trinkets and painted rocks which the public had added- all of which had been removed.

The note from BCP Council said the items are “safely kept for you to collect at your convenience.”

However, Penny has called the number six times and sent two emails, to no avail and has been unable to retrieve the sentimental items.

BCP Council has since said the phone number written on the note by a worker had an incorrect digit on.

She said: “I am distraught that our special place has been destroyed but if I have to respect their decision, they should have respected our right to grieve.

“They should have left a note to inform me it needs removing and given me time to process and collect it myself with my grandson.”

Speaking about her son, Penny said: “He was my world, he had a wicked sense of humour. He adored his son and his son adored him.”

BCP Council was contacted for more information but had not responded at the time of going to press.