Grieving family warn of scam using images of son

Nine-month-old Oliver died in 2021 after choking at a day nursery in Ashford, Kent

The parents of a boy who died after choking at a Kent nursery said they were heartbroken after discovering a scammer is using images of their son online.

Oliver Steeper was nine months old when he died in hospital after choking on food at Jelly Beans Day Nursery in Ashford, Kent, in September 2021.

Posting on X, formerly Twitter, The Oliver Steeper Foundation said it had been made aware of a scam using Oliver's image and that it was seeking legal advice.

Kent Police have been contacted for comment.

The image being used showed Oliver whilst he was in hospital before he died in 2021.

Oliver's dad, Lewis Steeper, said: "You never think this will happen to you, but then you see your photograph which has so many vivid, heart-wrenching and painful memories.

"Then you read it and see that someone is trying to use his picture to get people to give them money. It’s absolutely terrible."

Oliver's parents Zoe and Lewis Steeper described the scam as "absolutely terrible" and "disgusting"

The family urged the public not to donate any money to the page.

It coms as The Oliver Steeper Foundation is currently fundraising to supply anti-choking devices to childcare settings.

The foundation says 15 devices have been distributed so far.