The Mayor and Mayoress of Swale Cllr Steve Worrall and Therese Davies plant a tree at the spot where Michael Chapman was killed

by Hayley Robinson

hrobinson@thekmgroup.co.uk

Yobs who ripped up trees planted in memory of a teenager kicked to death in an unprovoked attack, have been labelled "low lifes" by his family.

Michael Chapman died on June 16, 2006, when he was attacked on the Gore Court playing field by former friend Lee Cowie, who served almost two years for his manslaughter.

The 16-year-old died in the arms of his older brother David.

His mother Sue says she broke down in tears when she saw the 90 leylandii trees had been ripped from the ground behind St Bartholomew's Church, Bobbing.

They were only planted three weeks earlier by Mrs Chapman to mark the sixth anniversary of her son's death.

It is the second time plants in memory of Michael have been targeted.

Honeysuckle and three jasmine plants which were put in along the church path last April to mark what would have been Michael's 21st birthday were also torn up in September.

Since his death, family and friends have raised funds to rebuild the path at the Bobbing church where he is buried.

"i'm devastated and gutted. they're targeting michael, not me.
why do it to the deceased?" – michael's mum, sue chapman

The trees, which cost about £200, plus the plastic coverings to protect the trunks from being nibbled by wildlife, had been intact when Mrs Chapman visited the church on the morning of Wednesday, June 20.

When she returned at around 8.45pm the same day she discovered they had been uprooted.

"I'm devastated and gutted," she said. "They're targeting Michael, not me.

"Why do it to the deceased?

"The hedges were meant to be a wind and sound barrier so people can sit there peacefully. We bought them for the church to make it look nicer for people. We were only going to grow them about four or five feet and then keep trimming them.

"We've spent so much money up there and we want to finish it off.

"I don't know how people can be so...I don't even know what the word is. It's so upsetting - I just cannot believe the low lifes."

• Anyone with information is asked to contact Kent police on the non-emergency number 101 quoting reference number KP201206201583.