A COUPLE have had their Christmas marred after thieves stole a fir tree planted by their daughter before she died last year.

St John Constable Phil Rondel’s daughter, Helen-Claire Reid (37), who worked as a Customs officer, had been diagnosed with cancer when she planted the tree in memory of her cat that died.

But last Sunday afternoon Mr Rondel noticed that all that was left of the tree, which was planted opposite the Fencing Centre in St Lawrence, was a stump.

‘It was a special tree because my daughter planted it prior to passing away to commemorate the death of her cat,’ he said. ‘It has been painful because we lost our daughter 12 months ago.’