A memorial bench for an Invergowrie man who was killed while attempting to foil a multi-million-pound drugs smuggling operation has been targeted by vandals.
The seat was put up in Invergowrie Memorial Park to pay tribute to Alastair Soutar, a Customs & Excise officer who died during an operation to prevent drugs being smuggled into the UK.
The 47-year-old, who was born and raised in Invergowrie, was crushed between two boats and killed during the operation off the Caithness coast in 1996.
To pay tribute to his courage, property developer Tulloch Homes donated money to create the permanent memorial in the park.
But the family have now been devastated to learn that vandals smeared the metal bench with black and white paint last weekend, before gouging out and stealing the personalised memorial plaque.
Mr Soutar’s sister, who does not want to be named, said she was heartbroken when a neighbour alerted her to the damage.
“I felt absolutely gutted when I saw it. I am really upset that someone would have sat there and taken the time to do that.
“They must have had something sharp with them to get the plaque off because it was screwed in. I looked right around the park area to see if I could find it but it was nowhere.”
Councillor Peter Mulheron is outraged at the destruction.
“It is disgusting that people would do this,” he said. “Vandalism is bad enough but when it is memory of someone who died doing good for society, it is a disgrace.
“It is just terrible for his family,” he added. “If anyone has seen anything or has any information that would help find who did this, they should go to the police.”
A police spokesman said the matter was being looked into and appealed for anyone with information to phone 0300 111 2222.