Ryan Bebb, Jayden Trustum face court after Casino Mafeking Lamp war memorial badly damaged
Two young men have faced a North Coast court after thousands of dollars of damage was done to a heritage-listed war memorial at Casino.
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Two men have faced a North Coast court after thousands of dollars of damage was done to a heritage-listed war memorial at Casino.
The Mafeking Lamp in the centre of the roundabout at the intersection of Barker St and Walker St in Casino is a focal point of the town‘s Anzac Day commemorations.
Ryan Bebb, 18, pleaded guilty at Casino Local Court on Thursday to committing an offensive act on a war memorial. He was living in Lismore at the time.
Co-accused Tatham man Jayden Trustum, 20, sat next to him, accused of committing an offensive act on a war memorial and wilfully damaging a protected place.
Trustrum has not yet entered a plea.
The memorial including a 15-foot marble column and street lamp is named after the Siege of Mafeking during the Boer War, according to the NSW War Memorials Register.
“It is supported by a pedestal on a freemason base, which has several plaques attached including the insignias of the Australian Defence Forces,” the register states.
The memorial, which was unveiled on May 24, 1901 was badly damaged on June 18 this year.
Bebb and Trustum left the Tattersalls Hotel about midnight, after spending time drinking.
Police allege Trustum climbed on to the memorial first, tried to pull himself up and caused the lamp to break off.
It’s alleged he fell about two metres and the lamp was left hanging off the column by its electrical wiring.
Bebb climbed and stood on top of the column.
He fled into a nearby crowd, allegedly with Trustum, as cars approached.
CCTV captured Bebb on the memorial and during a police interview he admitted it was him. He told police Trustum was the co-offender.
Police allege Trustum was also caught on camera.
The allegations against Trustum will be mentioned in the court on September 21.
A Richmond Valley Council spokesman told police the damage to the historic memorial was extensive and would cost about $5000 to repair.
The court heard Bebb was remorseful for his actions, but opposed a compensation order to pay for the damages.
Magistrate Juliana Crofts condemned Bebb’s “drunken actions”.
Ms Crofts sentenced him to a 12-month conditional release order and ordered him to pay $800 in compensation to the council.
No conviction was recorded.
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