VANDALS smeared black paint over a dad’s Manchester United- themed headstone.

Dawn Diggens’ dad John Taylor died seven months ago after suffering a blood clot.

Mrs Diggens, of Shrub End, Colchester, found his gravestone in Colchester Cemetery had been desecrated on Sunday.

She said: “On the back of the headstone was a big crest of Manchester United and it had been painted over.

“You could see the bristles from the paintbrush. His name had been smeared across and a photo of him had been smeared over.

“I phoned the police straight away.

“It is gutting, because my dad’s headstone has only been there for two weeks.

“I don’t know whether it is an attack on the family by someone – not many people knew the headstone was there. With what was done to it, that’s how it feels.”

Mrs Diggens, 37, said her mum was on holiday in Spain at the time and was distraught when she learned what happened.

Mr Taylor, a painter and decorator, died aged 59. He had four children and 13 grandchildren, and was buried next to Mrs Diggens’ grandfather, Roger Munson, whose headstone was untouched.

Mr Diggens’ wife, Maria discovered he had died in his sleep at their home in Monkwick, Colchester.

Mr Taylor’s headstone was cleaned for free, thanks to John Smith’s stone masons funeral directors, based close to the cemetery in Mersea Road.

The damage is believed to have happened between Friday at 1pm, when Mrs Diggens last visited, and Sunday at 11.20am, when she discovered the damage.

Colchester police are investigating.

Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111