Man who destroyed war memorial dodges jail and TAXPAYERS will foot bill for compensation

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Man who destroyed war memorial dodges jail and TAXPAYERS will foot bill for compensation.

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A man who cut down a live Christmas tree, which was also a war memorial, has escaped a jail sentence and will have to pay compensation out of his benefits.Dylan McNamara felled the pine on the village green just hours after up to 100 people had watched the Christmas lights switch-on at Shotton Colliery, Co Durham, on December 10.The 26-year-old admitted criminal damage at a previous hearing and was handed a 10-week jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work by magistrates sitting in Newton Aycliffe on Tuesday.Paul Doney, prosecuting, said the tree had been in place for 10 years and was used as a focal point for the village at Christmas, as well as serving as a war memorial.

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TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Mr Doney told the court the value of the tree was in the thousands of pounds as it had grown to 20ft tall, although the prosecution accepted the figure was less than £5,000.Stuart Wardle, parish council clerk, provided a statement in which...

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