THE mother of a dead schoolboy has hit out at crooks who stole phone memory cards containing pictures and messages that belonged to her son.

About 20 small phone memory cards and SD cards which belonged to Jay Whiston are thought to have been stolen from his family home in Aster Close shortly before Christmas.

Jay, 17, died outside a house party in Marlowe Way, Lexden, Colchester, shortly before 10pm on September 8, 2012.

Clacton and Frinton Gazette: Jay Wiston

The A-level student, who was studying at Tendring Technology College in Frinton, had been partying with friends at the house.

Jay’s mum Caroline Shearer, who has launched the anti-knife crime charity Only Cowards Carry, said she was left distraught by the theft.

“I think it was taken from my home,” she said.

The cards had a lot of memories for Jay, as well as private messages, messages from his sister and pictures of his nieces and nephews.

“I was left distraught – the cards are only worth about £5 each.

It makes me want to give up.

“I hadn’t looked though them yet – it’s the sort of thing youhave to do in your own time. I haven’t even read all the cards from his funeral yet.

“But I was feeling down and decided to go through the memory cards, but found they were all gone.

“They were in the top of a box of special bits I kept in the lounge.”

Mrs Shearer appealed for anyone who comes across memory cards containing pictures of Jay to return them to her.

“I think it may have been taken by one particular person,” she added. “But it’s hard to believe anyone would do that – it’s a despicable thing to do.

“Jay loved Christmas, so this is a hard time of year and this has just made it harder.

“It is a hard time for us with the trial coming up, but we just have to keep battling on.”

Mrs Shearer said she marked Christmas by visiting her son’s grave.

  • Edward Redman, 18, of Halstead Road, Colchester, has been charged with Jay’s murder. He is due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court later this month.