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Vandals desecrate town's memorial
A WAR veteran is outraged after vandals desecrated a memorial where wreaths were left in memory of Rifleman Aidan Howell, who was killed in Afghanistan.
They broke off part of the base of the cross in High Street, Desborough, on Tuesday night.
More than 150 wreaths had been placed at the cross in memory of Rifleman Howell, of Desborough, who died in a bomb blast in December.
Colin Stratford, 82, who served with the Northamptonshire Regiment in Berlin and Vienna, said: "It's blasphemous.
"They have nothing better to do than pick away at the cross. If I had caught them I would have given them a good hiding."
Mr Stratford's son, Tony, who knows Rifleman Howell's parents, said: "They are mindless morons.
"The people of Desborough have been paying their respects by laying flowers at the cross and the day after they are removed this happens."
Pictures of Leeds fan Aidan, who was only 19 when he died, and a Leeds United shirt were also laid at the cross.
Mr Stratford said gangs of up to 60 youths hang out at the cross in the evenings.
He said someone had been chipping off parts of the base of the cross for some time, but on Tuesday night a piece about 40sq centimetres was broken off.
Mr Stratford said: "They couldn't have done it with their hands. They must have used a pick.
"The top has gone and they have started scraping away at the layer underneath. You can see right into the foundations of the cross. If they keep going it might fall down."
Jim Scott, president of Desborough Royal British Legion, said: "Mindless people are doing this. They can't have any thoughts of what they are doing."
A CCTV camera looks directly at the cross, but neither the council or the police were aware of the damage.
Sgt Wayne Preece said: "We take any damage to war memorials very seriously and will take robust action against anyone found to commit this crime.
"As a safer community team we have been patrolling the area near the memorial in recent weeks after reports of anti-social behaviour.
"We have also been working with local youth organisations that have been providing activities for young people in the area."
Vandals desecrate town's memorial
n By David Trayner
david.trayner@northantsnews.co.uk
n
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Monday 13 February 2012
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