Man Arrested for Defacing Church

Case information
Incident date
Country
United Kingdom
Place
Andover
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Church
Place of Incident
  • Church
Bias Indicators
  • Comments/Written Statements/Gestures/Graffiti
  • Time/Place/Location
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated
Image credit: Test Valley Borough Council Facebook page

A man was arrested after spraying graffiti on several buildings in Andover including St. Mary's Church where the anarchist symbol was painted on the church door and the number 666 was left in red on the steps outside. The incident is suspected to have taken place some time between the 8th of August and the early hours of the 10th of August.

Alex Leigh was charged with various criminal damage offenses as well as with assaulting a police officer during his arrest. The 24-year-old, who pleaded not guilty, has been released on bail and is to stand trial on October 12th.

Sources: Andover Advertiser here, here, here and here, LOVEANDOVER

Sources