Son, 64, admits desecrating mother’s grave

A RETIRED company director has been reprimanded by a judge and will pay £4,500 in costs after destroying his mother’s gravestone with a hammer.

Larry Zalcman, 64, was seen desecrating his mother’s grave by a cemetery attendant in Long Ditton, Surrey, in November 2015. Zalcman, from Drews Park, Bucks, was arrested by Surrey Police on suspicion of causing criminal damage, but was later given a police caution after admitting his guilt.

The incident was initially believed to be an act of anti-Semitic vandalism. But court records show that Zalcman may have been harbouring resentment towards his mother after an unsuccessful attempt to gain control of her finances in 2009. She died in 2013.

At High Wycombe county court, Judge Philip Glen accepted Zalcman’s offer to pay the full costs of replacing the gravestone and prohibited him from returning to the cemetery.