The grieving mum of a man who was shot dead has hit out at callous thieves who have been repeatedly stealing from his grave.

Maureen Jenkins was disgusted to discover that floral tributes she had left on her son Sean's grave in Magdalen Road Cemetery, Wandsworth, had been stolen when she visited on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Jenkins, known as Stretch, was shot on the doorstep of a friend's house in Newstead Walk, Carshalton, in December 2006.

The 36-year-old from Whitlock Drive, Southfields, had earlier watched a boxing match at Caesar's nightclub in Streatham High Road, where a brawl broke out between a large group of people.

Tributes flooded in for the 6ft 8ins window cleaner, described as a "gentle giant", after friends and family received the shocking news of his death.

Mrs Jenkins explained she frequently walks her son's dog, Jake, at the cemetery and likes to take pride in caring for Sean's grave.

"Like a lot of people who have lost someone I like to go to his grave and just talk to him. I know that he's gone, and that nothing's going to bring him back, but it's a little something I can do.

"They've stolen from Sean's grave before. It's mostly flowers, only the new ones. I think they sell them on. But they just take the flowers and then throw the card with the message away," she said.

According to Mrs Jenkins other people who had loved ones buried in the cemetery had suffered similar thefts and called on the council to provide CCTV to protect the graves.

"I think that they should get cameras in to deter these scumbags. After all that's what we pay our council tax for," Mrs Jenkins added.

A spokesman for Wandsworth Council said: "We do a great deal to deter thefts of this type and all our cemeteries are regularly patrolled by the parks police both during the day and at night. "Fortunately thefts from graves and memorials are relatively rare, but this must still have been deeply upsetting for this family and our sympathies go out to them.

"Whoever did this is callous and heartless and should be condemned in the strongest terms."

  • Joseph Peter Greenland, of Faraday Road, West Molesey, is due to appear before the Old Bailey on June 16 charged with Mr Jenkins' murder.