Accomplice in Christmas tree felling sentenced
Durham PoliceA second man who helped cut down a village Christmas tree, which also served as a war memorial, has been given a suspended prison sentence.
The 22ft (6.7m) tree in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, was felled shortly after a ceremony to turn on the Christmas lights last December.
Appearing at Peterlee Magistrates' Court, Dominic Radcliffe, 28, of Laburnum Terrace, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and was given an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for a year. He was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.
Dylan McNamara, 26 and of Bruce Glazier Terrace, was previously given a 10-week prison, sentence suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
The festive spruce was planted 10 years ago after a fundraising effort in the village and was also a monument to local soldiers who died in World War One.
At the time of the felling, Durham Police described it as "a mindless act of vandalism which caused huge upset throughout the village".