Two teenagers are sentenced over damage at cenotaph
TWO teenagers who damaged poppy wreaths while shouting ‘hateful antisemitic slurs’ at the Rochdale cenotaph have been sentenced in court.
The two 17-year-old boys – who cannot be named for legal reasons – damaged the wreaths at the war memorial in the town centre at around 12pm on Monday, November 6.
They shouted ‘hateful antisemitic language’ as they caused the damage, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The pair filmed themselves during the incident and uploaded the clip to social media.
On Monday, both were sentenced at Manchester Magistrates’ Court after being charged with racially aggravated criminal damage.
A man who had laid one of the wreaths to remember those captured or killed during the Second World War described the incident – which was one of two police were called to at the Cenotaph
that week – as ‘disgusting’. He said: “The damage caused by the youths was disgusting and deliberate.
“This is a disrespectful act for the people of Rochdale, the veterans, and the people of the parachuting regiment association.”
The Community Security Trust also told the court how this incident would have impacted the Jewish community in Greater Manchester.
Both teenagers pleaded guilty to the offence on November 20 last year.
They claimed they ‘had become angry after seeing a video of a man removing Palestinian flags from the Cenotaph on social media’, the CPS added.
Both were sentenced to 10-month referral orders, which included a two-month uplift due to the hate element of the crime.
They were also ordered to pay compensation of £25 each and a contribution to the costs of the case of £25 each.
Matthew Siddall, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “This was a profoundly disrespectful act – Rochdale Cenotaph is an important symbol to the community and commemorates those who gave their lives to protect our cherished freedoms.
“By desecrating two poppy wreaths while spouting antisemitic language, the teenagers showed not only their contempt for the people of Rochdale, but also their hateful attitude toward the Jewish community.
“Hate has no place in our society and we are committed to prosecuting those who use hateful language.”