The family of a Moray dad killed in a car crash have been left dismayed after an ornament loaded with sentimental value was stolen from his grave.
Graeme McKenzie was killed in 2014 when a black Audi he was a passenger in left the A941 Craigellachie-Rothes road and rolled down an embankment.
His parents, Kate and Neil, have been making regular trips to his resting place at Rothes graveyard since then.
But when they visited to lay flowers on Tuesday, they realised that an ornamental stone bulldog had been removed from the plot.
The decoration had been placed there by his long-term partner, Sharyn McBay, to commemorate the close bond the 37-year-old shared with his pets.
Mr McKenzie’s dad, Neil, yesterday revealed that the theft was the second time such an ornament had been taken from his son’s grave.
He added: “We visit the cemetery quite often, and when we went just before Christmas the bulldog was certainly there.
“It was put there because he had two pet bulldogs he was very fond of, but a first version of the ornament was taken in April.
“A new one was put there at the end of September, but now this has happened again I don’t think we will replace it another time.
“Its a disgrace that this happens, to be honest.”
Ms McBay, who had children Hayleigh and Max with Mr McKenzie, took to social media in an attempt to discover who had committed the theft.
She believes the culprit may have gifted the ornament to a loved one for Christmas, and urged anyone with information to call the police.
A police spokeswoman added: “Inquiries are ongoing into the theft.”
