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Mother 'devastated' as son's bench vandalised

Grace McGroryScunthorpe
News imageBBC The photo shows a woman looking at the camera. She has a straight face, and short grey hair. She's wearing a bright red hoodie. She's standing in front of a park, which has grass and trees in the distance. BBC
Sue Dook installed a bench in memory of her son Mathew on what would have been his 30th birthday in Central Park, Scunthorpe

A mother said she is "heartbroken" after a memorial bench in honour of her son has been "smashed to pieces."

Sue Dook, 56, from Scunthorpe, bought the bench in memory of Mathew Dook, who died when he was 19 in 2013.

She said she learned the bench, which was installed in Central Park in the town, had been "vandalised" after someone messaged her.

Ms Dook added: "I'm sad, angry, hurt. It's as if we've lost him all over again. You're starting to heal and then somebody just rips the plaster off. We're all heartbroken and devastated and we just don't know why anyone would choose to do this."

News imageEmma Marie Castelluccio The photo shows what would have been a bench - but over 20 of the panels, as well as the legs and arms on one side, have been cut up. It's leaning on the floor. It's situated in a park, which is filled with grass and trees. Emma Marie Castelluccio
Ms Dook said the bench had been left "totally unrepairable"

Ms Dook said her son, Mathew, died from diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) - a condition that can happen in people with diabetes caused by a severe lack of insulin.

"He grew up with diabetes and he struggled with it for many years. Unfortunately, we tragically lost him." she added.

Ms Dook said she bought the bench in memory of Matthew in 2023 on what would have been his 30th birthday - and "specifically placed" it at a spot in Central Park.

"He could see the playgroup he used to pick his brother up from, his grandparents house, the pub where he used to go and do the quiz, and also see cars - because his first love was cars.

"He also used to spend a lot of time in Central Park with his grandparents as well."

'It's totally unrepairable'

Ms Dook said she first discovered the bench had been destroyed after someone messaged her on social media.

"We are all just completely devastated.

"We just don't know why someone would choose to do it because Matt was such a lovely kid.

"I used to come here, sit on this bench and talk to him. We just can't understand."

The bench has now been removed.

News imageSue Dook The photo shows a man and a woman looking at the camera. On the left is a man with short brown hair. He's wearing a blue top. On the right is a woman with blonde short hair. She's wearing a white shirt. They're both holding up pint glasses. Sue Dook
Mathew Dook died aged aged 19 in 2013

Ms Dook said one of Mathew's friends had set up a crowdfunding page, in the hope of raising enough money to buy another bench.

But she urged anyone who knows anything about the incident to "come forward."

In a statement, Humberside Police said: "Officers are currently conducting enquiries into a report of criminal damage to a memorial bench in Central Park, Scunthorpe.

"The incident is believed to have occurred between Saturday, 29 November, and Monday, 1 December 2025."

Anyone with information or CCTV footage is asked to get in touch.

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