A man and woman have been banned from Garth Lane bridge and Weelsby Woods after they were found guilty of vandalising parts of them with spray paint.
One of the lions at the entrance to Weelsby Woods and the steps at the bridge were covered in green and purple paint depicting a range of symbols and crude messages on Sunday, 21 January.
However, the Council’s Street Cleansing team acted swiftly to rectify the damage just two days after the incident, bringing the lion back to its former glory.
The lion, which has stood at the entrance to the woods since they opened in 1951, has been alone since a car accident destroyed the second lion, which sat opposite it, last year. Delicate repairs to that lion are still on-going.
The steps to the Garth Lane bridge were covered in the same paint and symbols, with this being the fifth time in three years they have been vandalised.
They also targeted the entrance to the Newby Centre, the cafeteria in Weelsby Woods and some of the bins.
Using Council CCTV cameras stationed in Weelsby Woods, a man and a woman were identified and apprehended. The pair were issued with a community order for the vandalism earlier this month which included a number of restrictions.
These are:
- A letter of apology to the Council Street Cleansing team
- A letter to the friends of Weelsby woods group
- Not to carry spray paint in the public
- Do not attend the bridge
- Do not attend Weelsby Woods
Council members praised the Street Cleansing team and the those who operate the CCTV cameras for their hard work to restore the lion.
The lion was vandalised with crude messages and symbols
Councillor Ron Shepherd, Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: “The response from our Street Cleansing team was magnificent and they are a real testament to the Council.
“To restore such an important part of our borough’s heritage in such a short space of time is a great achievement and something they should be incredibly grateful for.
“It’s also paramount that I congratulate our CCTV team for how effective they were in helping the police to identify the offenders.”
He added: “I would also like to thank the police for their work to hold these offenders to account. I hope people see this as a prime example that any type of crime is not acceptable and that they will be punished for their actions.
“I feel stronger measures are necessary when dealing with offenders, we need to send a clear signal that those who vandalise our area will be subject to stronger sentencing.”
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