Man charged with criminal damage after vandalism of war memorials at Sutton Bridge church

A man has been charged with vandalising a war memorial and urinating in the grounds of a village church.

Matthew Harpham, 48, of no fixed abode, has been accused of vandalising the structures at St Matthew’s Church in Sutton Bridge on Boxing Day.

A police spokesman said: “We have charged a man with criminal damage following a report that a man had urinated in church grounds and defaced war memorials at St Matthew’s Church in Sutton Bridge.

“Matthew Harpham, 48, of no fixed abode, has been released on bail with conditions not to attend St Matthew’s Church.

“He is due to appear at Boston Magistrates’ Court on February 12.”

The church has an affiliation to the RAF and the churchyard contains three Commonwealth burials from World War I and 54 from World War II.

Kevin Wheeler, churchwarden, said: “On the advice of the police due to vandalism over Christmas we have locked up the church.”

There are also war graves of other nationalities to remember fallen pilots who are buried at the RAF war memorial in the graveyard.