THE sister of a 17-year-old boy who died after falling into the River Medway at Maidstone has been deeply upset to discover vandals have trashed her tributes to his memory.

Rosemaria Swaffer, 20, left a wreath in memory of her brother Jason on Christmas Day, only to return a day or two later to find it damaged and the candles in pieces. The vandals had ripped up a card and letter, which she had left to mark what would have been his 18th birthday, just three days before Christmas.

Miss Swaffer, a cleaner of Ashford Road, Maidstone, said she was reduced to tears after seeing her decimated tributes in Maidstone Millennium Rose Garden, where she had earlier dedicated a plant in his memory.

She said: "It is just so sick. I kept my feelings to myself for a while and then I couldn't hold it in any longer and I cried."

The rose garden is close to the Lockmeadow Millennium Bridge from where her brother fell to his death in October. His body was not recovered from the river for several days.

Miss Swaffer believes the vandalism was a vendetta against her because only her tributes to Jason were damaged. Other cards and flowers were left intact.She said: "When I saw what had happened it made me feel so angry." She said Jason, who lived at Trinity Foyer, Church Street, Maidstone, was a kind, gentle person.

Police are investigating the incident. Anyone with information is asked to telephone 01622 690055.