Man Admits Damaging ‘Tommy’ Silhouette

The damaged silhouette of the WW1 soldier

A man has been handed a Community Order and ordered to pay £150 compensation after admitting damaging a silhouette of a soldier at the War Memorial in Market Harborough town centre.

Leicester Magistrates’ heard Leigh Marlow bent the 6ft tall figure while attempting to pull it out of the ground on The Square on Friday evening.

He was challenged by members of the public and arrested after Police identified him through CCTV, which captured the incident.

Marlow, 34, of Aikman Close, Leicester, pleaded guilty to criminal damage.

His one year Community Order sentence includes an alcohol treatment programme.

Stewart Harrison, Chairman of the Market Harborough branch of the Royal British Legion told Hfm the damage caused a great deal of upset:

The iconic ‘Tommy’ figure, placed beside the Memorial by Harborough Council last year, to mark 100 years since the end of WW1, was removed after the incident, but is due to be returned tomorrow after being repaired.