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Georgia Shaw, whose brother Benn Johnson died in a car accident in 2024, took extraordinary measures to identify the person repeatedly removing her brother’s roadside memorial. The tribute, placed at the crash site in Derby, had stood for two years before being taken on 2 June, with a replacement disappearing just five days afterward. Determined to find out who was responsible, Shaw attached a tracking device to new photos she placed at the memorial, which eventually led her to the home of a man who told her, “I don’t want you to have a shrine.”
Derbyshire Police confirmed they are investigating the removal of memorial items from Pastures Hill in Littleover, speaking with a man in his 60s regarding the matter. Meanwhile, Derby City Council stated that they sometimes remove roadside shrines following public requests but had not received any complaint about this particular memorial. They expressed relief that the police are handling the situation. Shaw recalled the distressing moment when she and her crying stepmother confronted the man. She said, “He didn’t even flinch, there was no emotion. He just kept repeating, ‘I don’t want you to have a shrine’. It is totally bizarre to just start antagonising a family.”
Benn Johnson was a 22-year-old joiner and a passionate Derby County fan, described by his sister as “incredible” and “the funniest life and soul,” someone who could brighten any room. On 10 June 2024, he and his younger brother Finn were passengers in a Vauxhall Corsa driven erratically by their 19-year-old friend Kiran Hanson. The car collided with a Range Rover shortly before 22:00 BST. Benn suffered fatal internal injuries despite paramedic efforts at the scene, while Finn sustained serious injuries including a broken back, sternum, and hand. Hanson pleaded guilty to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Reflecting on the day, Shaw said, “Mentally, he watched his older brother die at the side the road. You can only imagine what that is like for an 18-year-old boy.”
Following Benn’s death, the site near the crash became a meaningful place for family and friends, marked by cards, flowers, candles, and a personalised registration plate. Shaw explained that visiting the memorial was an important part of Finn’s recovery. However, on 4 June, Finn discovered all the items had been removed. After contacting Derby High School and Derby City Council without success, the family replaced the tributes, only to have them taken again within hours. Shaw grew suspicious and decided to place a tracker inside a photo frame. Early on 10 June, just two years after the crash, the family used the tracker to locate the missing items at a nearby property. The man who answered initially denied involvement but later admitted to having the memorial pieces, refusing to return them at first. He insisted the family “didn’t need a shrine, and should grieve in a graveyard.” Eventually, some items were returned directly, and others after a police search. Shaw said, “I wouldn’t have understood why someone would want to go to the place where the person took their last breath, until I was in this position. But if it gives my little brothers even just an ounce of comfort, I’m going to make sure that they have that memorial.”
Representatives from the city council acknowledged the significance such memorials can hold for families and communities and expressed sympathy for the distress caused by their removal. They affirmed that the council was not involved in this case and that any removal of memorials normally occurs only after consultation with families or official requests, emphasizing that it is done “carefully and respectfully.” Derbyshire Police confirmed a man had been voluntarily interviewed but no arrests have been made and investigations continue
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