A daughter whose father’s grave was vandalised in Rye Cemetery says she hopes the man cautioned for the damage realises the emotional impact he caused.
A number of graves were damaged and memorials overturned after a car drove though the grounds in December 2025.
Sussex Police say the damage was found to be unintentional and the man has been required to pay a financial penalty for the damage.
Stacey Sage, a family member of one of the graves vandalised, recalled the impact of the vandalism. “After hearing the news about the damage at Rye Cemetery, I felt truly heartbroken. While I understand that the damage has been described as “unintentional” and the individual involved reportedly feels a great deal of guilt, it is difficult to reconcile that sense of remorse with the fact that the incident was not reported. When someone genuinely regrets their actions, one would hope they would come forward straight away rather than waiting to be identified.”
“We are grateful to hear that the cost of repairing the damaged headstones will be covered,” she said. “However, the loss goes beyond the stone itself. Many of the flowers, ornaments, and keepsakes were also destroyed. These items have not been covered and have had to be replaced by us, which simply isn’t fair. We hope the person involved realises the emotional impact this has had on the families affected, and we hope that any loved ones he has resting somewhere are not disrespected in the way my father and others have been.”
Inspector Simon Whitehead, from the Rother Neighbourhood Policing Team, said, “We recognise how upsetting this incident will have been for the families who have loved ones buried at the cemetery. We have now completed our enquiries, with the individual required to cover the cost of the damage caused.”
Image Credits: Stacey Sage .