Woman jailed after leaving note on diabetic man’s grave reading ‘ha ha ha, looks like diabetes won’
Simona Julius, 25, also sent cruel messages to grieving family members in Christmas cards
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A woman has been jailed after vandalising the grave of a young diabetic man with the words: “Ha Ha Ha Liam. Looks like diabetes won again.”
Simona Julius also daubed “P****hole bruv” in paint on the headstone of Liam Scarman, who died of diabetes at the age of 22 on Boxing Day 2017 after suffering a diabetic hypo.
The 25-year-old carried out the attack overnight between 26 and 27 November 2020, shortly before the third anniversary of Mr Scarman’s death.
It is unclear why she did it – but his family previously said they suspected the culprit was associated with a former love rival.
Julius was jailed for eight weeks at Bristol Magistrates’ Court over damage to the headstone at Westerleigh Crematorium in Bristol.
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The court heard how she also left unpleasant notes for Mr Scarman’s family and, after publicity about the incident, sent further offensive messages to named family members in Christmas cards.
Julius, of St George, Bristol, had admitted criminal damage and two counts of malicious communications at an earlier hearing.
She was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to the family and handed a three-year restraining order.
District Judge Lynne Matthews described Julius' actions as "perplexing" and "wicked" and "struck at the very heart" of the family.
The crimes, just before the three-year anniversary of Liam's death in December 2017, caused his family great distress.
In a personal statement to the court, Mr Scarman’s mother Sue Witt described how Julius' actions "took over" family members' lives.
She said: "Losing a child is the worst possible grief you could imagine. It has consumed my life.
"Having found out that somebody had damaged Liam's grave just compounded all those emotions and undid the progress I had made in dealing with his death.
"'I think people are wondering what kind of person Liam was, how horrible a person he must have been for somebody to damage his grave the way they did, when in reality everybody who knew him loved him.Liam Scarman, 22, died on Boxing Day 2017 after suffering a diabetic hypo
"I never knew him to do anything nasty or horrible to anybody. I don't understand why she did it."
Some of the notes were addressed to his father, plumber and heating engineer Trevor Scarman, 65, who added in his statement: "When I found out Liam's headstone had been vandalised, I had a numb feeling that went through my body. My initial reaction was why?
"Why had someone damaged it? Why just Liam's was targeted? How anyone can write such disgusting things about my son I just cannot believe.
"The physical damage has been repaired but the emotional damage will take far longer to repair.
"It's like someone is sticking a knife in and twisting it. Our family are completely distraught.
"To commit an act of criminal damage like this along with vile notes addressed to me has left me feeling devastated."
Investigating officer PC Kyle Maywood, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "I'm glad that we were able to identify the culprit and bring some relief to the family, but Julius has never answered the question of what motivated her to act as she did and cause such distress.
"I hope the sentence will help Liam's family to put this behind them so they are able to remember him as their much-loved son and brother and not Julius' hateful actions.
"I also hope the case gives other victims of disability hate crime the confidence to report incidents to us."
PC Maywood added: "I would like to thank the members of the public who provided crucial information after seeing the appeals for information and calling in."
Liam, who worked in insurance sales, died at his dad's house in Winterbourne Down, Gloucestershire, while living his brother Oliver and girlfriend.
Additional reporting by SWNS