THE grave of a teenager stabbed to death in a street fight has been desecrated.

Vandals ripped out the cross and tore out decorations at the grave of 16-year-old Ben Hitchock, in Beckenham Crematorium.

It happened some time between Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

Ben’s mother Lee said she was distraught at what had happened.

She said: “Ben’s grave has been totally vandalised. When I went to see it I couldn’t believe what they had done to him. I was in such a state. This is diabolical.”

Mrs Hitchock said she was sure the attack was linked to the murder investigation into her son’s death.

“This was not just a random attack,” she said, “none of the other graves were touched at all.”

Ben, who lived in Penge and was a pupil at Kelsey Park Sports College in Beckenham, Bromley, was fatally stabbed in the stomach during a fight involving up to 40 youths, in Southend Road, Beckenham, at about 11.20pm on Saturday, June 23 last year.

Police are still trying to catch his killer.

Det Insp Stuart Kingston, of the homicide and serious crime command at Lewisham police station, said officers were making progress in the investigation.

He said: “We’re all totally disgusted by this incident.”

Forensic officers have visited the grave site to gather evidence.

In a seperate incident police are investigating graffiti vandalism at The Royal Oak Pub, in Oakfield Road, Anerley, Bromley.

The pub, which stands next to a youth centre used by Ben and his friends, was daubed with a slogan directed against Penge Bloc, a group Ben was associated with.

On January 21 Ben’s friends and family released 100 balloons at the spot where he fell to mark what would have been his 17th birthday.

Seventeen teenagers are on police bail in connection with the murder investigation.

There is a £10,000 reward for information leading to a successful prosecution in the murder investigation. Anyone with information should call police on 020 8721 4961 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.