A MAN has been caught on camera tearing down posters advertising a charity run in memory of a 17-year-old teenager with the “biggest heart” who was stabbed to death.
CCTV footage shows him destroying fundraising flyers on lampposts with a picture of Lainie Williams, who died from multiple stab wounds after an attack in her home in South Wales.
Police questioned the man after the incident in the village of Cefn Fforest, near Blackwood.
No arrests have been made, but residents blasted the “horrible man” for dishonouring the efforts to pay tribute to the beloved teenager.
One woman, who lives in Cefn Fforest, said: “What’s wrong with this man what’s his issue with them being up.”
“Officers have spoken to a man following reports of criminal damage; no arrests were made,” a Gwent Police spokesperson said.
Neighbour Stephen Darknell, 48, put up the posters as he is set to launch a 100-day challenge to run 5k every day in Lainie’s honour.
The money will go to the Wales Air Ambulance who were called to the tragic scene of the stabbing in November last year.
Stephen will kick off the challenge on August 21, which would have been the teenager’s 18th birthday.
“I live where Lainie lived, and I know the family and her grandparents, so I just thought I’d do something for the Air Ambulance, they were fantastic,” he said.
“I’ have done a few challenges for charity in the past, I really enjoy running and I thought why not I’ll give it a go to keep her memory alive, and to let the family know that we’re thinking of them.
“I’ve been running since 2012 and I’m always out four or five times a week, but I do work 12-hour shifts and nights.
“I just want to go out and get as many people as possible involved.”
Lainie’s ex-boyfriend Cameron Cheng, 18, has been charged with murder and the attempted murder of her mum Rhian Stephens, 38, who was also seriously injured in the attack.
A provisional date for his trial is still set to be fixed.
Lainie was tragically declared dead at the scene when emergency crews arrived at the family home.
An inquest gave a provisional cause of death as “multiple sharp force injuries.”
Lainie’s great-grandmother Florence Jones, 78, told how the teen fought for her life after she was attacked in her bedroom.
Her eight-year-old brother hid under his bed after hearing his sister’s screams.
Paying tribute to her daughter, Rhian said: “Lainie Williams was a typical teenager. She loved every single one of her friends. She didn’t have a nasty bone in her body.
“She was the littlest girl with the biggest heart in the world and she was caring, creative, funny.
“She loved her family, she used to come and kiss me every night and wrap her arms around me.
“She was so caring, she loved everybody – she had all the kindness in the world.”
