Court Suspended sentence for man who destroyed tribute to war dead
AHOMELESS man who destroyed plaques in memory of those who died in the Second World War has been spared an immediate prison sentence.
Neil Smart vandalised the new memorial garden in Castle Park on Tuesday, April 7, leaving a group of Normandy veterans, who had worked tirelessly to create it, devastated.
The 41-year-old was sentenced this week at Bristol Magistrates’ Court to 18 days in prison, suspended for one year, after admitting criminal damage.
He was also ordered to pay £200 compensation.
Vice-chairman of the Normandy veterans, based in Bristol, Paul Turner said Smart’s action caused a lot of “heartache” for struggling members.
Police are attempting to arrange a rehabilitation scheme between Mr Turner and Smart, where the two may meet to discuss the crime.
“I’m open-minded to it,” said Mr Turner, aged 72. “It’s a sad state of affairs. It was such a mindless act on his part.
“You can’t imagine what motivates someone to do something like that.
“He didn’t have anything to take away from it.
“He caused a lot of heartache, our members were absolutely devastated – they had put in so much time and service, then suddenly you get a call from the police. It’s awfully sad circumstances.”
Three of the group’s members died during lockdown – none as a result of Covid-19.
One man’s dying wishes was to be buried with a guard of honour from other veterans.
“We weren’t able to do it,” said Mr Turner. “Only ten people were allowed to attend his funeral.
“This man has just made a very sad time even harder by his actions.”
The group is attempting to raise £250 to replace the plaques. Bosses at Morrisons have offered to collect money for them at the Cribbs Causeway store while veterans are unable to attend.
“They have been so kind,” said Mr Turner. “I couldn’t safely send any of our veterans in. It’s a bad time to be trying to fundraise.”
The Normandy memorial located at Castle Park is a beautiful spot for Bristolians to sit, relax and take in the surroundings.
And impressively, veterans who look after this garden are either 95 years old or older.
April’s vandalism was the second time the memorial had been vandalised, after two plaques were stolen in September 2019. proclaimed Queen of England at the age of 16 – she lasted only nine days before being executed.
1834: American artist James McNeill Whistler, who made Chelsea his adopted home, was born in Massachusetts.
1871: Author Marcel Proust was born in Paris.
1900: The Paris Metro opened. 1954: Gordon Richards rode his last mount – at Sandown – the 21,834th of his nearly 34-yearlong career.
1958: The first parking meters in Britain were installed in London’s Mayfair.
1962: Telstar I, the world’s first television telecommunications satellite, was launched in America.
2011: The News of the World bade farewell to its readers after 168 years with the simple words “Thank you & goodbye”.
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