Charity money for drowned teenager is stolen

The father of 14-year-old Aaron Burgess said he was “devastated” to find out around £600 had been stolen from the youth centre his son used to attend.

The money included £300 that was raised by Aaron’s friends by selling coloured wristbands with the words Rest in Peace Aaron ABF (Aaron Burgess Forever) Burgess.

The break-in was discovered on Christmas Eve – which would have been Aaron’s 15th birthday.

Jay Burgess, the teenager’s father, has appealed for anyone who knows about the theft from Hanham Youth Centre, Bristol, to contact the police.

Aaron, from Longwell Green, near Bristol, died after being dragged under the water at Saltford Weir which he was using as a slide on July 24.

He had been cooling off in the stretch of the River Avon between Bristol and Bath when he disappeared under the water and did not resurface.

Hanham Youth Centre club manager Arran Bees posted news of the break-in on the club’s Facebook page with people describing the theft as “disgusting”.

He said in a message: “So, as some of you have heard by now, over the weekend at some point club was broken into.

“I was called in at 6am Christmas Eve, all of the fundraising money for Aaron had been stolen, lots of club’s money and other money too, and our PS3.

“They smashed their way into the office with a spade and broke into the safe.

“Devastated to think there are people out there willing to do stuff like this, especially to a charity fund.”

As well as the £300 raised in memory of Aaron, thieves stole funds raised to replace a bench installed in memory of 12-year-old Rob Davis, who died after he was hit by a motorcycle on the ring road at Longwell Green six years ago.

Money was also stolen from the club’s safe, tills and from a fundraising bucket on the bar.

Mr Burgess, 35, said after being informed of the theft: “I was devastated when Connor (Aaron’s friend) rang to tell me.

“If anybody knows anything about it would they please contact the police and I’d be really grateful.”

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: “We are investigating a burglary at Hanham Youth Centre which occurred over the weekend between 4pm on Friday December 21 and 6.15am on Christmas Eve.

“Entry was forced into an office and money stolen from a safe, a games console was also taken.

“We attended the scene and an investigation is under way to identify those people responsible.

“Anybody with information should contact us on 101 or alternatively information can be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111,” he said.