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Yob urinates on Burnley’s war memorial
SUSPENDED SENTENCE: Jamie Gorton (below) who urinated on Burnleys War Memorial.
A YOB who urinated on Burnley’s war memorial should have been locked up, according to the town’s MP.
Jamie Gorton (22) was given a suspended prison sentence by magistrates after he admitted urinating on the memorial which honours the town’s war dead in the Peace Garden, Croft Street.
But Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle said he should have spent time behind bars and the Royal British Legion branch branded his actions “disgusting”.
The MP said: “To do something like this is absolutely disgraceful. He has shown complete disrespect to people from this town who gave their lives for his freedom.
“The only pity is that he was given a suspended sentence, he should have been locked up in my opinion.”
Gorton, of Browsholme Avenue, Burnley, pleaded guilty at Burnley Magistrates’ Court to outraging public decency on November 28th.
He was caught on CCTV committing the act at the place where hundreds gather every year to pay their respects.
Magistrates gave Gorton a prison sentence of six weeks suspended for 12 months and ordered him to carry out 100 hours unpaid work. He was also given a supervision order for 12 months and must attend probation service appointments for six months.
Mr David Elliott, press officer for the Royal British Legion Burnley and Padiham branch, said Gorton’s actions were upsetting.
He added: “What this man has done is deeply upsetting to the families of those people who have given their lives for this country’s freedom.
“Thankfully, incidents of vandalism of memorials are few and far between, but when they happen it is very hurtful. It is mindless and disrespectful and people should know better.”
Remembrance crosses are laid out a week before Remembrance Sunday and for two weeks afterwards in front of the memorial in the Place de Vitry sur Seine. It remembers all those who died in the two World Wars and subsequent conflicts.
The Express reported in November that Gorton was given a “Prohibited Activity Requirement” by the town’s magistrates which banned him from entering licensed premises in the town centre, following an application from police as a result of his lengthy offending while drunk.
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Weather for Burnley
Sunday 26 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 5 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: West
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Light rain
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