Man urinated on war memorial

A witness who saw Mark McBaine, 37, relieving himself at the Euston Place memorial on Thursday March 1 called the police and he was arrested.

The witness, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I can understand people needing to go to the toilet, but not against a war memorial that commemorates people who have given their lives for our country. It’s just a lack of respect.”

McBaine was charged with outraging public decency and appeared before magistrates on the following day. He was fined £65 and issued with a two-year criminal anti-social behaviour order (CRASBO).

After hearing about the incident, Leamington veteran Derek Dickenson, who is the chairman of the town’s branch of the Royal Naval Association, said: “Most people will of course agree that this is disgraceful behaviour, whether ex-military or not.

“These memorials are in honour of people who have given up their lives for us all. It’s something that the majority of people would not accept.”

He added: “Members of the public cannot determine what sentences can be because we all see things differently, but presumably this order he has been given will mean that people will now be on the look-out for him or anyone else doing it again.

“It’s absolutely disgusting what he has done, but he has obviously been caught. As in a lot of cases, many people may think that some sentences are inadequate to the crime committed, but the law is the law.”

The terms of this mean that, until March 2 2014, he must not act or behave in a manner which causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person, in particular but not restricted to females, be verbally abusive, swear or use foul or offensive language in public or to threaten, intimidate or use violence towards any person.

He is also prohibited from urinating in public or consuming alcohol in any public place - this includes having an open vessel of alcohol in his possession.

McBaine was also told he cannot beg or accost any person to ask for money or any other goods.

If he breaches the terms of the CRASBO during the next two years, he could face a maximum penalty of five years in jail.