Church attackers must ask for forgiveness

Three teenagers who attacked an ancient parish church have been told they will have to ask the congregation for forgiveness.

The trio were originally jointly charged with causing criminal damage to the 750-year-old St Peter’s Church in North Tawton, near Okehampton. The three defendants — 14 and 15-year-old girls and a 16-year-old boy — daubed graffiti over gravestones and on the church building itself.

Exeter Youth Court was told that the trio had been given final warnings over the damage and the charges against them were withdrawn by prosecutor David Burgess.


Photo from here.

Dave Brown, from the Youth Offending Team, told the court that the teenagers and their parents had cleaned up the graffiti. He added: “Part of the plan is for them to apologise to the congregation of the church.”

He said they face the ‘daunting’ task of facing the vicar and congregation to say sorry for their actions which caused widespread upset in the town.

The trio, who cannot be named because of their ages, did not appear in court after they were given their final warnings.