Drunk teenager urinated on Newcastle war memorial

Aug 4 2010 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

A DRUNK teenager has been hit with a fine after provoking outrage by urinating on a Tyneside war memorial.

Douglas Tullin was branded "abominable" after he was seen by a restaurant worker relieving himself on the cenotaph on Old Eldon Square, near Monument, Newcastle.

The 19-year-old – who was then seen to drink a can of Stella before throwing it behind him on the grass – was hauled before Newcastle magistrates following the incident on July 13.

But his actions have been met with anger by representatives of the Armed Forces after he escaped with a £50 fine.

Jeff Banning, chairman of the Royal British Legion club in Jesmond, Newcastle, said: “This is totally disloyal to the whole history and future of the military.

“I find it abominable, especially as we have campaigns going on.

“I don’t know what drives people to do that.

“It grossly offends me when a person gives their life for their country and then someone does something like this on their honourable memory. But I don’t want this to tarnish the reputation of all young people.”

A spokeswoman from the War Memorial Trust said: “Obviously we are very disappointed to hear about these kind of things happening.

“As a trust we encourage people to cherish their war memorials and treat them with respect.”

Clive Freemantle, prosecuting, told Newcastle Magistrates’ Court how a worker at Nando’s restaurant was so disgusted by what he saw that he rang the police.

He said: “The witness was shocked by what he had seen.

“He said in a statement ‘I was very angry at what had happened’.”