An Ayrshire daughter has told sick vandals to 'hang their head in shame' after trashing a poppy wreath laid in memory of her late dad.
Grieving mum Jordan Shearer, 24, was left disgusted when she found out a wreath laid for her hero dad Gary was ripped off and tarnished.
The Prestwick mum-of-two laid down the wreath at the town’s Cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday earlier this month, with her two-year-old daughter.
But less than a week later she discovered that a menace had tampered with it, leaving it hanging off amongst the other colourful red displays in support of war heroes.
The callous act came just weeks after the second anniversary of her dad Gary’s sudden death at home, aged just 50.
Furious Jordan told Ayrshire Live: “I’m absolutely disgusted.
“I went down there with my two-year-old daughter to place it down for Remembrance Sunday for my dad.
“It was a special place for him to visit and it’s somewhere we can go to remember him.
“By the following Saturday we found out that the wreath is completely damaged, the whole backing is off.
“Whoever has done this ripped out the photo of him and his regiment number, and pulled all the family wooden crosses from out of the back and flung them on the ground.
“We are just completely livid and furious that someone would do such a thing.
“That spot meant a lot to my dad, whoever has done this should hang their head in shame.”
Gary, known fondly in the town as Gazza, served in the army for seven years - most notably in the Gulf War before he withdrew from the forces in 1997.
In total the decorated forces member picked up three medals during his service including a Gulf war medal, UN Cyprus medal, Kuwait Liberation medal and a Saudi Kuwait Liberation medal.
Following his time in the warzone he suffered bouts of PTSD and was helped by armed forces charity SSAFA.
The ex-soldier was a hugely popular figure in Prestwick, with hundreds turning up during Covid restrictions in the town on the day of his funeral.
Last year, a fundraiser raised £7,236 in memory of the dad for the SSAFA, with a golf day held for the former golf caddy at Prestwick Golf Club.
His son Brandon, 22, followed in his dad’s footsteps joining the forces and he returned home to find his dad’s wreath left in ruin.
Jordan added: “Dad served in the armed forces for seven years, my Papa also served, my uncle Mark and so does my brother, we’re an army family.
“He would go to the Cenotaph with all his medals on every Remembrance Day, he took pride in going there.
“It is our place to remember him. It’s where I go to place flowers down on the anniversary of his death. It just so frustrating that this has happened. We are not allowed to grieve my dad properly.”
Police are understood to be investigating the incident.
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