GRAFFITI SCRAWLED ON CRUCIFIX OUTSIDE LEICESTER CHURCH

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Graffiti scrawled on crucifix outside Leicester church

Vandals scrawled graffiti "tags" on a crucifix in the grounds of a city church.

The figure outside the Church of St Andrews, in Jarrom Street, near Leicester Royal Infirmary, was targeted this week.

Two designs – TW3 and, possibly, LGC3 – were written on the figure in what appeared to be black marker pen.

The incident is believed to have happened between Monday and Wednesday.

Canon Barry Naylor, who discovered the damage, said: “It has caused a great deal of upset.

“There is a 4ft fence with spiked railings they would have to get over and then the crucifix itself is quite all. So they have gone to some effort to do this.

“I am hoping that someone will be able to tell the police who did this.

“I have told the police that, if possible, I would like to speak to this person or people and explain to them how much they have upset people.

“Another reason people here are so upset is that when I first came to the church the figure on the cross was old and damaged and people in the church raised money to buy a new one.

“It has become quite a focal point and people will sometimes stop in the street and make the sign of the cross in front of it.”

Pc Tahir Mahmood, who is investigating, said: “This is obviously a distressing crime for the church, who are saddened that someone would do this to their property.

“I would appeal to anyone who was in the area between Monday and Wednesday and saw either anyone acting suspiciously or loitering in the area to get in touch.

"I would also like to speak to anyone who has heard anything about the incident, whether it be from, friends or heard rumours.

“Even the smallest piece of information may help.”

Contact Pc Mahmood on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.