War heroes confront yob

Paul Britton

July 25, 2009

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Jack Bailey, who had pleaded guilty to urinating on the cenotaph and then assaulting a veteran, met other veterans to apologise for his actions.

Jack Bailey, who had pleaded guilty to urinating on the cenotaph and then assaulting a veteran, met other veterans to apologise for his actions. 1/3 Play Slideshow

A VANDAL who desecrated a war memorial was confronted by a group of angry veterans on his way to court.

Jack Bailey, 20, from Stockport, urinated on the cenotaph in Blackpool just hours before a service of remembrance - then attacked a man who tried to stop him.

Seven ex-servicemen confronted Bailey about his drunken act outside Blackpool Magistrates Court. They showed him how proud they were to fight for their country by holding up their medals, forcing him to apologise.

Bailey, from Castlerigg Close, Heaton Chapel, even admitted one of his relatives had been a prisoner of war.

He said: "I was blind drunk and didn't realise what I was doing.

"I know how serious it is. My great-uncle was a prisoner of war and my family are very upset about it. I wouldn't have done what I did if I hadn't been drunk. I'm very sorry."

Some of the veterans praised him for owning up, but others said he should pay for his crime.

Ian Coleman, president of the Blackpool branch of the Royal British Legion, said: "If he is really remorseful for what he has done and cleans the Cenotaph under supervision, then I'll accept his apology. This kind of thing is happening too often."

Bill Hunter, chairman of the Thornton Cleveleys branch of the Royal British Legion, said: "The memorial is very important and should be respected because the people it's there for gave their all for our freedom."

Bailey was appearing in court to be sentenced, but the case was adjourned so pre-sentence reports could be prepared. He was warned, however, that he could be locked up.

Bailey urinated on the memorial on Blackpool Promenade ahead of a service to honour the town's war dead on June 27. Tourism boss Philip Brown, 55, intervened but was met with a volley of abuse. Bailey then followed him and attacked him.

He pleaded guilty to common assault at an earlier hearing. He is due to be sentenced on August 13.

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born a blue, die a blue, droylsden (25/07/2009 at 08:23)

It is difficult to express my feelings of contempt for this idiot, I actually felt sick reading this article.

Angie33 , Manchester (25/07/2009 at 08:39)

Made my day.Wonderful.The grown ups taking charge at last!Brilliant idea to turn up at court wearing their medals,and what an inspiration.Weve been looking for ways to solve problems like this and here it is.Having respect for the dead,elderly and vulnerable has to be at the core of our society.I was thinking about a recent case where saddles and equipment were stolen from a riding school for the disabled and imagining all the children who use the school turning up at court if they are ever caught.How simple and brilliant an idea,and perfect for many cases.Hope Jack realizes they have done him a favour.Hopefully they come up with an equally creative sentence.Theres a massive gap between youth and death where the grown ups used to be.How civilized when compared to vigilate talk and no one could call this the soft approach.Hopefully we'll get some comments from Jack at a later date,beyond'dont remember'.

fergizafan, NY (25/07/2009 at 08:54)

not that i condone his actions but at least this young man admitted his actions and apologised,fair play to the old soldiers for showing him how proud they are of their fallen comrades.

Panzer 391, Salford (25/07/2009 at 09:16)

Old school Brits meet the 'New labour do as you like nothing is your fault Brits'.

Mark,Radcliffe. (25/07/2009 at 09:34)

Why is it an older generation are suddenly becoming vigilantes ? A few days ago it was an armed-robber in a club detained by a few of the regulars.Perhaps they've decided,they've seen enough,and had enough.....Police and Politicians alike please take note,this sort of behaviour could hopefully spread.

The Higher Openshaw Exile, MANCHESTER (25/07/2009 at 09:46)

Same old excuse 'I was blind drunk', no excuse.

Blackraven, Manchester (25/07/2009 at 10:07)

Simple! Sign him up to military service and send him and the many others out to Iraq and Afghanistan.. Make them pay for what they've done by doing a real job.. Secondly, it'll help solve unemployment figures!

Rambo, Denton, Manchester (25/07/2009 at 10:23)

Why not urinate on him, see if he likes that :-)

Mark,Radcliffe. (25/07/2009 at 10:29)

A candidate for Community Service....from now until November 11 he can spend his time street-collecting for the Poppy Appeal.

john davis, Broughton, Salford (25/07/2009 at 10:37)

vermin, send him to Aghanistan for a year and let him see what war and dying for their country means .

A Salfordian, salford (25/07/2009 at 10:43)

Yet another idiot blaming it all on the booze, if you cant handle it don't drink it your lucky it wasn't a group of current paras waiting outside the court for you total fool.

Angie33 , Manchester (25/07/2009 at 10:47)

Mark Radcliffe Older people have been challenging this sort of thing for years though it only occasionally gets reported often ,as they dont think they are doing anything special.Maybe its that many people over 40 remember when there was law and order and when there were certain things you did not do.Burglary for instance,you wouldnt be seen dead having anything to do with someone who commited burglary,thats if they hadnt had to leave the area.One thing that changed that was these things werent reported in papers,and people no longer know their neighbours or whats going on.People dont challenge things anymore,sometimes out of fear or just because they live in their own world and dont see anything beyond their own front door,the kind of mentality where they have an immaculate home and car,everything material,but step over bottles, bricks, cans to go from car to house.When their car gets damaged with that brick who's to blame?The council,cleansing services, polticians,the police,or even the person who has stepped over it for weeks to enter their home?Older people tend to see these things coming where maybe in lots of areas the younger generation have been born into it,in many instances they havent created it.Thats why clean streets matter so its not the norm for the present generation of children.

Tameside Blue, Tameside (25/07/2009 at 11:28)

Many of these memorials are in poor condition and in need of a good clean

Why not make these people clean the memorials with professional equipment just to show us how sorry they really are then interview them afterwards and see if they really are now proud of their two achievements (Defacing and then cleaning)

The real Jimmy Grimble, Manchester (25/07/2009 at 12:10)

Custodial sentence without a doubt. Then a year in Afghanistan supporting the troops. His friends & family should give him a hard time. The overweight Mr.Bailey might benefit and learn valuable lessons.

Paul Fox (25/07/2009 at 12:18)

I Agree with all the comments on here but, lets take it a step further, lets give these idiots a choice, the army or the nick and why stop there,, any of these dole scoungers under 25 thats been unemployed for more than 2 years also get to make the decision have your dole cut or join up.. I think this country is at breaking point and we have been offering far too much carrot and not enough stick for too long.

BALL AND BAT, ALL OVER (25/07/2009 at 12:19)

Simple make him clean every cenotapth momorial say in a 50 miles radious every week and attend to war graves cutting around them and clearing old flowers and tidying them all up looking nice then watch him watch real life footage of the 1st and second world war.

Laura Norder, Didsbury (25/07/2009 at 12:27)

Where do some people get the idea that forcing scum into the Forces would benefit anyone?

Our military are all volunteers, and ordering no-marks and layabouts to join the proud men and women that safeguard our way of life, would merely pollute our armed services.

Jail isn't the answer either (IMHO) but, a prolonged spell, in an orange boiler suit working for communities, would benefit society, and maybe instil some sense of civic pride into offenders.

Zimmerman, manchester (25/07/2009 at 12:48)

Just two words.THE BIRCH.

Big Brother, North West (25/07/2009 at 12:56)

I believe in an eye for an eye so I think the veterans should urinate on him.

beswick red (25/07/2009 at 14:04)

is the product of nu labours world ? something for nothing trogs who believe everybody else is to blame for their situation grown men and women who have no pride in themselves or country and expect the rest of the nation to support them in their lazy ways this is nu labours mantra the sooner they are out the better for the taxpayers no wonder the country is on its knees with this poor me attitude they need to get a life and soon !!

hodie, wiltshire (25/07/2009 at 14:45)

Being in the armed forces requires brains, common sense, tolerance, maturity , dignity and above all self control when in the most difficult of circumstances. A bunch of mindless yobs would be the last thing needed as recruits.The modern army is light years away from the days of National Service.

Mullet Vision (25/07/2009 at 15:24)

Disrespectful amoebae...simple as.

The Higher Openshaw Exile, MANCHESTER (25/07/2009 at 15:55)

To all those who suggest putting this low life and the like in the Army, one question would you like your life to depend on what they would do in a sticky situation? I know I wouldn't.

Frequent Flyer, Altrincham (25/07/2009 at 16:31)

WE HAVE A SERIOUS DRUNKEN YOB CULTURE IN THE UK - SIMPLE PUNISHMENT FOR ANY OUR ' DRUNKEN YOBS ' - SENTENCE THEM ALL TO 3MTHS OF NATIONAL SERVICE - CLEANING THE KIT OF THE SOLDIERS FIGHTING "IN AFGANISTAN". A SIMPLE SENTENCE AND A LESSON IN RESPECT -PAYBACK TIME ALL IN ONE !

lou macrai fish and chippie (25/07/2009 at 16:38)

one easy solution the birch he would not do it in singapore, we have to many do gooders here.

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