CCTV footage captured the moment a vandal defaced a cricket club with offensive graffiti, and authorities believe the same individual also targeted a nearby cemetery. The incident at Willesborough Cemetery in Ashford involved disgusting tags on several graves, causing distress to mourning families.
A hooded figure, dressed in all black, was recorded on a security camera at a neighboring cricket club spray-painting similar phallic shapes on the wall. The vandal caused extensive damage amounting to thousands of pounds, including tearing down wall-mounted ashtrays at the sports club.
Willesborough Cricket Club has been repeatedly attacked since July, with suspicions that the same culprit is behind each incident. The suspect’s actions occurred primarily between 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm over a week starting September 19, with subsequent sporadic returns, including an episode on October 16.
Club officials expressed frustration over the ongoing damage inflicted by the individual, estimating repair costs at around £2,000. They highlighted the financial burden of removing graffiti and replacing vandalized ashtrays, diverting funds from community cricket facility improvements.
The cemetery vandalism, discovered on October 10, featured offensive writings and drawings that disrupted the cemetery’s tranquility, prompting the installation of protective fencing. Police are investigating the cricket club incidents, while Ashford Borough Council is addressing the damage at the cemetery.
Authorities received a report of criminal damage at the cricket club on September 26, with ongoing enquiries, including CCTV review, to ascertain any connections between the two sets of incidents. Efforts are underway to clean and restore the affected cemetery memorials.
In response to the incidents, Willesborough Cemetery has implemented permanent security measures, and restoration work is in progress. The council appreciated the community’s understanding and support during the restoration process.