Cops question youths after memorial garden for seven-year-old girl killed in bouncy castle accident was trashed by vandals
THREE youths have been quizzed after a memorial garden for a seven-year-old girl who died in a horrific bouncy castle accident was vandalised.
Shocking CCTV footage from tragic Summer Grant’s school shows four teenage boys tipping over flower boxes and hurling a car tyre into the garden.
The gang was caught brazenly vandalising the memorial before throwing bricks and writing swear words in the primary school’s play area.
Norfolk police said: “Three males have been spoken to and inquiries are ongoing to trace a fourth male.”
Headteacher Sara Bush said pupils and staff at Valley Primary Academy, in Norwich, were “horrified” by the attack which was being investigated by police.
Summer died from serious injuries after a bouncy castle she was playing on in Harlow Town Park blew away in strong winds in March last year.
Staff at Summer’s old school who created the garden in her memory were shocked to find it damaged on Wednesday morning.
Ms Bush said the vandalism was “very hard” for her former pupil’s family, as the memorial was dedicated to her love of flowers.
“I feel sick to the bottom of my stomach,” she said.
“We had an assembly to explain it to the children and it was the quietest assembly I have ever done, we are horrified.”
Ms Bush added: “We received a phone call to say it had been vandalised. There were little wooden planters with pots inside. They had pulled the plants and contents out.
“It is very hard for the family.”
Some 200 people paid tribute to Summer, from Norwich, at a vigil held at Harlow Town Park in April last year.
A 24-year-old woman and a man, 27, who were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence have been released on bail until June 15.
Ms Bush added: “When Summer died last year it affected us hugely as we are a small school. She was interested in flowers.
“We had to lock a couple of our gates to ensure families could not see everything. The garden has been a place for the children to take a moment. They were really respectful.
“We put the garden back together the best we could and (by break time) it looked normal but for a bit of damage.”
Ms Bush added: “It was senseless destruction. I would like to speak to the boys, I think they got carried away and did not think about the impact it would have.”
Norfolk Police has launched an investigation into the incident which saw the children’s play area vandalised too.
The vandals drew swear words on to area’s floor and were caught throwing bricks and sand.
The attack left the roof damaged and follows a similar incident before Easter.
Anyone with information about those responsible should call Norfolk Police on 101 and quote reference
Read the full article here