A STUDENT, from Macclesfield, who pleaded guilty to outraging public decency after he was photographed urinating over a war memorial has avoided a jail sentence.

Philip Laing had been warned he could face a custodial sentence after the picture showed him soaking a poppy wreath following a drinking session in Sheffield city centre.

The 19-year-old admitted the offence when he appeared earlier this month at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court.

On Thursday District Judge Anthony Browne ordered Laing to do 250 hours community service.

Opinion: Crass acts insult our fallen heroes

But the judge told the court that “something does need to be done” about the drinking culture that led to his behaviour.

The District Judge said he had considered jailing Laing but he said he had never seen anyone before him who was more contrite.

Sentencing him Mr Browne said: “I said to you when you last appeared that the image of your urinating over the wreath of poppies at the city war memorial was a truly shocking one.

“That was no understatement.

“There you are, a young man of 19, urinating on the war memorial erected to honour the memory of so many other young men.

Alcohol

“I have no doubt at all, and this is accepted by the prosecution that you did so because of the vast quantity of alcohol that you had consumed.

“There was no other motive whatsoever.”

He referred to Laing’s evening beginning with him sharing a bottle of whisky with a friend before consuming vast amounts of alcohol at an event organised by the Carnage organisation.

Mr Browne said Laing had told probation officers all the drinks were £1 for the Carnage bar crawl.

He said he understood Laing was so drunk he couldn’t remember anything of the evening.

The District Judge said: “Now, let me make this perfectly clear. No one forced you to take all this drink, or forced it down you, or persuaded you to commit a criminal offence. You did that all by yourself and you must take responsibility.

“But all this is set against a backdrop, as your solicitor has said, of a culture of drinking far too much.

“In my view something does need to be done to change this culture.

Outraged and offended

“What you have done has outraged and offended many and has saddened most.

“I received many letters from members of the public but I am required to decide your sentence on the basis of the facts of the case and principles of law alone.

“I have never seen anyone more contrite for what has happened nor one who regrets more the hurt and distress he has caused.

“You have understandably had the wrath and indignation of the public heaped upon you and your family.”

Mr Browne said Laing had already been significantly punished and said Sheffield Hallam University was still to decide on his future.

Opinion: Crass acts insult our fallen heroes