THE grieving parents of a seven-year-old who died of leukaemia found his ruined belongings in a Southend lock-up.

Boxes full of toys, drawings and photos, belonging to little Laughlin Whiteley were left in a lock up in Stanfield Road, Southend, when his family moved house.

Laughlin, known as Lockey, died two years ago after a fight against leukaemia.

His parents, Andrea Poyser and John Whiteley, who lived in Burnham, wanted to make a new start by moving to Norfolk with their six-year-old son Gus and newborn daughter, Eliza.

But when Andrea and John managed to get access to the lock up they were left devastated.

They found cardboard boxes had been ripped open and items were carelessly thrown around inside. All sentimental stuff which belonged to beloved Laughlin.

Andrea spoke to the Echo about what happened.

She said: “All of the boxes which we have got back have been opened, the contents have been moved around.

“It was as if they were looking for something.

“The most awful thing was that Laughlin’s belongings has been searched through.

“The Lego models which he’d spent hours making while having treatment for leukaemia in hospital had been absolutely destroyed.

And then they had been thrown in the back in the boxes.

“These boxes were full of our memories of him.

“We are in utter despair, and can’t believe someone has gone through all of his stuff and just abandoned it. It makes me feel sick.”

An Essex Police spokesman said the force was investigating a burglary from a storehouse in Stanfield Road, reported to police on July 21.

A 47-year-old man from Southend, was arrested on suspicion of burglary and has been bailed until October 4. Anyone with information should call police on 101.

They employed a firm called Southend and Chelmsford Removals but told the Echo the company did not transport their property to their new home.

The Echo visited the lock up on an industrial estate and found the door had been padlocked by the landlord due to non-payment of rent.

The firm repeatedly failed to answer the phone.

Friends have set up an online fundraising page for Lockey’s parents to help them pay for their lost and missing belongings.

You can donate visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com/steven-jeffery-2.