A VANDAL who defaced the Fred Dibnah statue in Bolton town centre has appeared in court where he apologised.
Peter Gray, aged 39, was caught on CCTV cameras at 6.30am carrying a silver can of spray paint which he used on the 8ft high bronze statue in Oxford Street, Bolton town centre.
Gray of Briercliffe Road, Deane, appeared before Bolton magistrates where he admitted criminal damage. He said he was sorry for the hurt he had caused to Fred’s family. He told magistrates he had been drinking. He said: ” I normally don’t drink at all. It was just a moment of madness. I respect Fred and always have. I am sorry for any offence caused to people who knew him.”
He was caught on CCTV on April 20 when he rode up to the statue on a mountain bike.
Harold Smith, prosecuting, said: “He was carrying a silver can of spray paint, which he used to spray the statue, causing £100 in damage.”
The Bolton News carried a story appealing for information and the police received calls about Gray who was arrested the same day and admitted the damage.
Gray, who is unemployed, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the council and £43 in court costs. Edmond Birch, chairman of the bench, told Gray: “This was a very high-profile case. You know it has offended a lot of people in Bolton and around the world. Your punishment will be part of the Grot Spot scheme, so you will be cleaning up graffiti in Bolton town centre. And when you do so, you will be wearing a high-visibility jacket, so people know that you are doing the work to pay back for what you have done.”
The statue was erected after The Fred Dibnah Memorial Appeal raised money through public subscription. Fred died aged 66, in November 2004.
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