Aiden Miles Vandenborn

Police have condemned abusive comments and images posted on a social media tribute page for a 17-year-old killed in a collision near Downham Market last month.

Aiden Miles Vandenborn, who lived in the Downham Market area, died following a collision at the A10 at Bexwell in the early hours of Saturday, December 15.

A Facebook tribute page for Aiden was set up for friends and family to leave messages but a number of malicious postings appeared on the page and is has now been removed.

Officers investigating the postings have said they are aware that a young person has been named on social media websites as the person responsible for them.

But they are satisfied that is not the case and the force warned that the naming of this boy is also malicious.

Commenting on this, Supt Dave Marshall said “The speculative naming of people on social media is unhelpful to our investigation and potentially very damaging.

“It is sickening that someone would wish to post such comments at any time on social media, and especially on a tribute page to a young man who has recently died.

“The comments do nothing but cause further distress to family and friends and we are seeking the page’s removal.”

Aiden died in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn, after the crash near the Bexwell roundabout at around 12.20am.

He had been a pedestrian and was involved in the collision with a VW Sharan close to a layby near a garden centre.

Following the 17-year-old’s death, his mother urged his friends not to attend unofficial vigils or memorials in case they put themselves at risk.

His family also paid tribute to the teenager last month and issued a statement: “Aiden was always the joker and loved making people laugh. He was such a lovely son and was a wonderful brother to his four sisters.

“I keep remembering what a caring and kind person he was.

“He was such a petrol head and loved cars, as well as hanging out with his mates.

“I would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts so far, he will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.”

Floral tributes were also left at the scene and one card left with a bunch of flowers said: “I know we only spent a short time together but in that time we made so many memories that I will never forget.

“No-one will ever forget you, you was took at such a young age.”

Another said: “We love and miss you with all our hearts.

Another added: “You meant so much to everyone and didn’t deserve to go so young.”

An inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned to a later date.

Police have previously said the driver of the car, who was a man in his 30s from the Dereham area, has helped with their investigation but no arrest has been made.