A teenage boy has appeared at Stratford Magistrates’ Court accused of criminal damage after spitting on a First World War memorial in Newham.
The 17-year-old from Ilford was given a 12 month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £75 compensation.
On Thursday, 10 May the 17-year-old was seen on CCTV by officers spiting on the memorial stone set in the ground at the entrance of Forest Gate Police Station in Green Street.
Investigators extracted DNA evidence from the stone. A DNA match came back to the teenager who was arrested and charged with criminal damage on Tuesday, 14 August.
Chief Superintendent Richard Tucker, said: “I hope that this sentence warns others against vandalism of any type.”
District Judge Sims said the teenager’s actions were “not just disrespectful, but despicable”.
