Man charged after suspected Lancashire church hate crime
Images and offensive phrases were daubed on the walls and gravestones of St James Church
Police in Lancashire have confirmed they have charged a man, after graffiti was sprayed over a church and nearly 40 gravestones on Good Friday.
The force were called to St James Church in Leyland on 18 April, after lewd images and offensive phrases were daubed on the walls.
It forced the church to hide the graffiti with plants before a wedding on the Saturday,
Joseph Williams, 30, of Nelson Avenue, Leyland, is due to appear at Preston Magistrates’ Court this morning (Tuesday, April 29th).
He is charged with ten criminal damage offences.
That is two offences of religiously aggravated criminal damage in relation to the damage to St James Church on the 18th April and the attack on St Mary’s Church on 27th April.
Seven counts of criminal damage to motor vehicles which occurred over two nights and one charge of criminal damage to property whereby a garden gate has been spray painted.