A man has been jailed for eight months after he spray painted “f*** you God” and other obscene graffiti on churches in Lancashire.
Joseph Williams, of Nelson Avenue in Leyland, admitted to two charges of religiously aggravated criminal damage, as well as eight additional counts of criminal damage, at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday.
The offences occurred during Easter weekend last year, with Williams defacing more than 20 gravestones at St James’ Church on Good Friday with offensive imagery and blasphemous messages targeting God.
His vandalism extended to spray-painting a nearby property gate and multiple vehicles in the Slater Lane vicinity with similar crude content.
Nine days later, Williams destroyed a stained glass window depicting the Blessed Sacrament at St Mary’s Church on Broadfield Drive.
The vicar of St James’ Church, Reverend Mark Wolverson, discovered the graffiti, finding messages including “God is a lie” and “f*** you God” scrawled across walls.
Gravestones throughout the churchyard had been defaced with sexual imagery and cross-eyed faces.
A wedding scheduled for the following day faced potential disruption, leaving the couple distressed about their ceremony being marred by the damage, the court heard.
The gravestones were marked with vile graffiti
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Local residents, council workers and tradespeople mobilised quickly to remove the graffiti before the Saturday service.
“The community was determined to show this would be put right,” Rev Wolverson said. “The way everyone came together was wonderful.”
Lancashire Constabulary received a report on April 27 about a man breaking windows at St Mary’s Church, with a witness calling from outside Leyland police station.
Officers pursued Williams after he attempted to flee the scene on West Paddock, where he was subsequently detained.
Joseph Williams was jailed at Preston Crown Court
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A search of his father’s residence uncovered two bags Williams had been carrying at the church, which contained a hammer and two bottles filled with petrol.
Investigators also discovered multiple spray paint cans at the property, along with a carrier bag holding red spray found in a bedroom.
The parish priest at St Mary’s expressed being emotionally and spiritually distressed by the attack on what should be a safe community space.
During his court appearance, Williams addressed the judge directly, describing himself as a religious person who typically cared for animals and fed birds daily.
The words ‘f*** you’ were daubed on the side of the church
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He attributed his actions to personal struggles, stating: “That period in time a lot of things in my life were making me think the world was attacking me from the outside.
“It made me start drinking and going back on what I believed inside and it made my thinking change dramatically.”
Judge Richard Archer expressed difficulty comprehending Williams’ motivations, noting the defendant’s religious background made the offences particularly perplexing.
“The court will not tolerate deliberate damage on religious building regardless of what religion or what time,” the judge declared.
Senior prosecutor Clare Byers said: “Joseph Williams deliberately targeted churches in his local area which has shocked and saddened the local community.
“He gave no thought to those that worship at the churches or the families of those laid to rest there.
“I hope those affected can feel some sense of justice knowing Williams will face the consequences of his disrespectful, hateful actions.
“There is no place for hate in our society.”