Derby Sister Recovers Brother's Roadside Memorial Using GPS Tracker, Man Questioned
Georgia Shaw installed a tracking device on a replacement memorial for her brother, Benn Johnson, 22, after his tribute was removed three times from Pastures Hill in Littleover, Derby. The original memorial, commemorating Johnson's death in a 2022 car crash, was taken on 2 June, followed by its replacement five days later.
When the third set of memorial items, which included new photographs with an embedded tracker, also vanished, the device led the family to a nearby property. Shaw recounted confronting the man who answered the door, who, despite initial denials, then asserted, 'I have them, but you're not having them back'. He allegedly insisted the family 'didn't need a shrine, and should grieve in a graveyard'.
Derbyshire Police confirmed they are investigating reports of memorial items being removed and have spoken to a man in his 60s in a voluntary attendance interview. No arrests have been made, and inquiries are ongoing. Derby City Council stated it had not requested the removal of this particular memorial and was 'glad' police were addressing the situation, noting that such tributes hold 'significant meaning' for families.
Benn Johnson died on 10 June 2022, after a Vauxhall Corsa, driven by his friend Kiran Hanson, collided with a Range Rover. Hanson was subsequently jailed for ten years after pleading guilty to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. Johnson’s younger brother, Finn, who was also a passenger, sustained severe injuries and witnessed his brother's death.
Shaw described her brother as a 'hard-working joiner' and 'the funniest life and soul', emphasising the memorial's importance for Finn's recovery. She believes not everyone understands the significance of such roadside tributes, but affirmed her commitment to maintaining it, stating, 'if it gives my little brothers even just an ounce of comfort, I'm going to make sure that they have that memorial'.
