War memorial outrage and swearing at verger denied

A MAN swore at a verger while urinating on a war memorial, allegedly telling him: "They are all dead anyway. There is no one under there," a court heard.

Ian Marshall, 49, is alleged to have made the comments as he urinated on the war memorial in Otley Road, Leeds, in November last year.

Marshall, of Gill Lane, Leeds, admitted outraging public decency by urinating in public, but denies actually urinating on the war memorial or making the insulting comments.

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The case was adjourned until April 6 at Leeds Magistrates' Court yesterday. On that day a number of witnesses will be called to give evidence during a hearing to determine the facts.

Prosecuting, Lisa Carlton said: "The Crown's case is that (the verger) Mr Ellis's attention was drawn to the defendant.

"He had climbed steps leading to the memorial and holding on to railings urinated on the memorial through to where the wreaths were clearly on display. That is what is at dispute."

She told the court that when Marshall was approached by the verger he became aggressive and shouted foul language.

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"When Mr Ellis reminded him of the recent Sheffield case he responded 'F*** off they are all dead anyway. There is no one under there'."

Marshall's lawyer, Abbi Whelan, said her client disputed the

prosecution's version of events.

She added: "The comments made are definitely disputed. Mr Marshall is adamant he did not make any of these comments."

Miss Carlton added: "The Crown say he did urinate on the area where the wreaths are and also made a number of comments to Mr Ellis, who is the church verger."

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Last year, student Philip Laing, was photographed during a mass student bar crawl in Sheffield city centre urinating over wreaths of poppies at a war memorial in the city.

The 19-year-old was spared a jail sentence.

Laing, from Macclesfield, Cheshire, was ordered to do 250 hours of community service at Sheffield Magistrates' Court after he admitted outraging public decency at a hearing last year.

The former sports technology student at Sheffield Hallam University later decided to leave the university.

The incident was captured by a freelance photographer working for a national newspaper and the pictures caused widespread revulsion.

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