TWO skulls have been taken from a cemetery grave in what police believe is an ongoing feud among travelling families.

Durham Constabulary officers were called to the cemetery on Bridge Street in Metal Bridge near Ferryhill at around 11.45am on Saturday, November 21 following a report that a grave had been disturbed and a headstone damaged.

It is believed that the damage took place overnight on Friday, November 20 and The Northern Echo understands it is linked to previous incidents in Darlington where vehicles have been driven into houses.



Thursday, November 12: The scene on Beaumont Hill, in Darlington, after a stolen horse box was driven into a bungalow, severly damaging the property and injuring a 17-year-old girl



Wednesday, November 18: A stolen truck is rammed into a house on Lynton Gardens, in Darlington

The parents of Levi George and Gareth did not wish to comment.

Gareth Price was found dead in his cell, in 2005, at Lancaster Farms Young Offenders' Institution while awaiting sentence for rape. It was said he never got over the death of his brother, Levi, who hanged himself in the garden of the family home, in 2001.

Their sister-in-law, Rose Ann, died aged 20 in a car accident just months after Levi's death.

Shortly after Rose Ann's death, in January 2003, Gareth was the driver of a stolen car that crashed in West Cornforth, killing 13-year-old passenger Liam Richardson, from Ferryhill.

He pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking, and was made the subject of an 18-month supervision order.

Then, during a holiday in the Liverpool area, he was arrested for raping a 17-year-old girl in Formby, Liverpool. After pleading guilty, he was awaiting sentence at Lancaster Farms Young Offenders' Institution but took his own life.

An inquiry at the time concluded that the 16-year-old was repeatedly failed by a system that was supposed to protect him.

Forensic examinations over the weekend found that the skulls of both Levi and Gareth had been removed.

Detective Superintendent Adrian Green said: “This is a sickening incident which has understandably upset many people.

“We believe that the damage to the graves is part of an ongoing feud between members of travelling families.

“This has taken things too far. It is depraved and goes against the religious and cultural beliefs of decent people.

“What I’d like to say to the community is this feud has to stop and we need anyone with information about this incident or the wider feud to contact us.



The funeral cortege lead by a horse-drawn hearse for tragic 16-year-old Levi George Price at Ferryhill in March, 2001

“You can call police, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously, and be assured we will treat any information you pass to us with complete confidentiality.

“I would also like to reassure local people that we will be running regular police patrols in key areas to deal robustly with any further disturbances. The incidents to date have been targeted and do not involve the wider community directly.”

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact officers on 101 quoting log number 0217 of November 21 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Phil Wilson, the MP for Sedgefield in whose constituency the incident happened, said: “By any stretch of the imagination, this is sick behaviour and the perpetrators need to be caught as soon as possible.

"There is no risk to the public, but we don’t want to see this escalating any further and everyone should give the police as much help as possible to catch whoever has done this.”