What did my little girl ever do to anyone? pleads distraught mother at wrecked graveside

They trampled over the plot occupied by Te’neka Rothery-Graham at Harehills Cemetery, Leeds, smashed ornaments and tore down a small white fence.

Leanne Rothery said: “I’m absolutely devastated, I don’t understand how anyone could do something like this. To see something like that is so upsetting. What did my little girl ever do to anyone?”

Miss Rothery, 34, lost Te’neka to cot death on July 17, 2010.

The Seacroft mother, who has four other children, pays regular visits to the grave with other family members.

It is thought the incident happened sometime between 12.30pm on Thursday, when a visitor walked past the grave, and 1.30pm, when Miss Rothery went to the Kimberley Road cemetery.

“Virtually everything had been smashed,” she said. “There were so many ornaments there and it was obvious it’s a little baby’s grave. They left about two things that weren’t damaged.”

She believes the attack may be connected to an altercation she had with a woman who was seen drinking in the cemetery.

North East Leeds police have mounted extra patrols around the cemetery following the incident – and a similar incident last week.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Another child’s grave was damaged at the same cemetery last week.

“Officers from the Gipton and Harehills Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) have increased patrols in the area.”

The cemetery has had previous problems. In 2010, 21 Muslim graves were desecrated. Then, in April this year, mementoes left for dead babies were set alight.

Anyone with any information should contact Gipton and Harehills NPT via 101.