A thug who decapitated a town’s World War One memorial has been ordered to pay £1,000 compensation and have treatment for alcohol dependency.
Myles Hannah (25) caused outrage at Thrapston in Northamptonshire when he tore the head from the silhouette of a British “Tommy” soldier two days after Armistice Day five days later.
Residents stated that they are ‘heartbroken” by the disfigurement to the statue, which stood in the center of attention at the town’s main monument since 2018.
Thrapston Town Council declared that the statue had suffered irreparable damage and it would need to be rebuilt.
Myles Hannah (25), caused outrage when he tore the head of the silhouetted figure of a British soldier ‘Tommy,’ two days after Armistice Day.
Alec Saunders, resident 77, said that Alec, his grandfather, gave his life in Flanders Trenches.
Planters were also removed from flowers that had been placed beside the monument in an act of night-time vandalism.
The CCTV photos showed a man wearing a hoodie, casually smoking a pipe, walking away from the scene. Later, police tracked Hannah down as the suspect.
Earlier this week Hannah, of no fixed address, was found guilty of criminal damage by magistrates in Northampton.
CCTV photos were issued by police showing a man wearing a hoodie, casually smoking a cigarette and walking away. Later, Hannah was identified as the perpetrator.
In the nighttime vandalism spree, flowers were also ripped out of their planters and placed alongside the memorial.
A community fund-raising page raised more than £2,000 in two hours to the ‘Tommy’ figure in time for Remembrance Sunday five days later
He was ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation for the damage.
Additionally, he will have to participate in alcohol dependency treatment for the four months preceding 13 December 2023. The Thinking Skills programme will require him attend appointments for any required activity for maximum 40 days.
Insp Nathan Murray, sector commander for Wellingborough and East Northants, said: ‘Damaging a war memorial is a terrible desecration – I hope he now understands the hurt and anger he caused.
“We are aware that this offense caused much upset in Thrapston especially since it occurred so close to Remembrance Day. I’m glad the case was brought before the court and a conviction obtained.
The order against Myles Hannah was to allow him to feel the anger and hurt he has caused as well as to learn how to heal and make better decisions for the future.
A community fund-raising page raised more than £2,000 in two hours to the ‘Tommy’ figure in time for Remembrance Sunday five days later.
Linda Marshall, town council clerk, stated that the residents were ‘outraged’ by the disrespectful behavior and that the council wanted to have it removed as quickly as possible.
Ms Marshall expressed gratitude to the community, saying that they had pulled together a great deal and have shown their support.
In 2018, the Royal British Legion made the Tommy artworks also called Silent Soldiers to commemorate 100 years of World War One.
All the money raised through the sale of the Tommies goes directly to supporting ex-servicemen and women through RBLI’s services, which includes its social enterprise factory, and supported homes.
RBLI’s social enterprise, Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, is based at RBLI Village in Aylesford, Kent which also provides homes to more than 300 veterans and their families – many of whom have life-changing physical injuries and mental health conditions as a result of their service.
Different symbols of British soldiers can be seen all over the UK, from Lambeth Palace (Archbishop of Canterbury) to the White Cliffs Of Dover.
Different representations of British soldiers were seen across Britain, including in Lambeth Palace’s official residence and the White Cliffs at Dover.