Girl admits paint attack on Wolverhampton's cenotaph

A schoolgirl this afternoon admitted spraying obscene pink graffiti on Wolverhampton's cenotaph after her "disgusted" mother found the paint can and told police.

The 14-year-old's vandalism sparked outrage among war veterans, who were left in tears by the sight.

The nickname painted on the monument in St Peter's Square led police to the teenager's Dudley home.

Her mother told officers she had found a can of paint spray in her daughter's school bag two days after the attack. The mother also agreed to be a prosecution witness.

The graffiti was seen by members of the Burma Star Association on their way to a reception at the civic centre.

Mr Paul Hitchcock, prosecuting, said that the case had been brought to court, despite the girl's age, because of the public outrage caused by the attack on October 5. He said that the war veterans had been "extremely distressed" by what they had seen.

Mr Ravi Dev, defending, told Wolverhampton's youth court today:"She was not fully aware of what the cenotaph is and what it represents. She foolishly caused the damage and has accepted that this was a terrible, terrible, horrible mistake."

He said her mother was "quite disgusted" by her daughter's actions and has supported the police prosecution. She was not at today's hearing because of her possible role as a witness. The case was adjourned until Thursday for the sentencing so the girl's mother can attend court. The teenager was bailed.

Mr Dev said it was the girl's first offence and that she had been given the spray paint.