Rhondda,South Wales - Mum left devastated as memorial ball is stolen from late partner's grave

The ball was a gift from her daughter to her late dad

A mum has told of her shock and anger after a memorial football was stolen from her late partner’s grave.

The football, which was mounted on the headstone of Conrad Phillips’ grave at Trealaw Cemetery, Rhondda, was a present from his daughter Lucy, eight, to her daddy on Father’s Day this year.

Conrad passed away following an epileptic fit in 2013, aged just 38, and Lucy had saved up hundreds of pounds to pay for the ball which was emblazoned with the Liverpool Football Club badge, for her father who was a big Liverpool fan.

Lucy Phillips pictured with her late dad Conrad Phillips

The memorial ball was removed over the weekend of October 8 and 9.

Conrad’s partner Tina Chapman said both she and her daughter were distraught when they realised that the ball, which had been attached to the headstone for three months, had been removed when they went to visit the grave, which they do every weekend.

'My daughter was crying'

Tina, 47, from Llwynypia, said: “On the Sunday morning we went to the cemetery to lay flowers on the grave, and my daughter noticed the ball had gone.

“We are devastated. My daughter was crying and I was trying to comfort her, but we can’t believe how someone could be so heartless to do such a thing.

“My daughter had saved for ages to pay for the ball as she knew her daddy loved football and Liverpool and for somebody to do this defies belief.”

(Left to right) Tina Chapman, Lucy Phillips and Conrad Phillips

She added: “I don’t know why they would do this.

“Even if they didn’t like it, they had no reason to do this.

“It’s so shocking and so disrespectful.”

'Absolutely devoted to his daughter'

All that remains of the ball now is the two bolts which held the memorial ornament in place. “When we told the stonemason’s who had mounted the ball they couldn’t believe it,” said Tina.

“They said that whoever took it would have needed to use tools to remove it from the headstone.”

Conrad, who worked for Remploy, was a big fan of Liverpool growing up and travelled up to Anfield to watch his beloved team play.

“He was such a happy-go-lucky man, he loved his football and he was absolutely devoted to his daughter,” said Tina.

A spokeswoman from South Wales Police said: “The incident has been reported to us and anyone with information is asked to contact 101 or Crimestoppers on anonymously 0800 555111 quoting occurrence number 1600389805.”

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/devastated-mums-shock-memorial-ball-12179645