A GRIEVING family struggling to come to terms with a teenager’s death say the first anniversary was made worse by the heartless actions of a mystery thief.

Friends and relatives of motorcyclist Jamie Fortune, 18, have seen items removed from a memorial set up around a tree beside Kingston Road, Taunton, where he died in a collision with a car on July 1 last year.

The County Gazette reported last week how a crash helmet, candles, a Pingu doll, cogs from Jamie’s bike, a scarf, photos and flowers had been removed from the site.

Since then candles and pictures have been taken and Jamie’s furious father, John Fortune, has called on anyone with information to “name and shame” the culprit.

Speaking today (Tuesday, July 1, 2014), the anniversary of Jamie’s death, Mr Fortune said: “I’m gutted, really upset that anyone should do this.

“We’re absolutely mortified and I hope someone can name and shame whoever’s done this.

“So many people have shown respect, but just one person ruins things.

“We’re having a quiet family day. A lot of people are placing flowers at Jamie’s grave and the memorial site.

“It’s a year on and it’s still very hard. It doesn’t get any easier. We’re just reliving everything.”

A copy of last week’s Gazette report has been pinned to the memorial tree.

“Hopefully that will prick the conscience of the person who’s taken everything,” added Mr Fortune.