Police release image of Leyland man who desecrated more than 20 gravestones on Good Friday
A Leyland man jailed for church vandalism has been pictured for the first time.
On Good Friday, more than 20 gravestones at St James’s Church in Leyland were daubed with paint, including lewd images and derogatory comments about God.
A window at St Mary’s Church was also smashed, and several cars in the area had similar images and language daubed on them.
Joseph Williams, 31, of Nelson Avenue, Leyland, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court to eight months in prison, after he admitted two counts of religiously aggravated criminal damage and eight counts of criminal damage.
Get a bespoke headline round-up, as well as breaking updates, when you sign up to the The Lancashire Post’s free emails
Providing an update South Ribble Police said: “It was reported on Friday 18th April that St James Church itself and a number of headstones had been daubed with obscene graffiti.
“We later received further reports of damage across Slater Lane, again over the Easter weekend.
“There was a further incident at St Mary’s Church where a window was smashed on April 27th.
“Following enquiries, we made an arrest, and a man has now been charged. Last week Joseph Williams, 31, of Nelson Avenue, Leyland, appeared at court and was sentenced for two offences of religiously aggravated criminal damage in relation to the damage to St James Church on the 18th April and the attack on St Mary’s Church on 27th April, six counts of criminal damage to motor vehicles which occurred over two nights 18th 19th into the 20th and one charge of criminal damage to property whereby a garden gate was spray painted.”
He was jailed for eight months.
They added: “We know these incidents caused huge upset and concern in the local community, especially given the time they happened, and we want to thank you for your support and we hope that this outcome gives some reassurance that we take such incidents really seriously and we will investigate and put people before the courts.”