Exclusive:Drunk asylum seeker seen "tearing" wreath apart at Sheffield Cenotaph by a “disgusted” onlooker
A city centre ambassador described seeing the defendant “shouting loud” and behaving in an “aggressive” manner
A drunk asylum seeker was seen removing “numerous” wreaths from Sheffield Cenotaph and “tearing” one apart by a “disgusted” city centre ambassador, a court heard.
Daadir Faragab, 38, had been in England for two months when the incident unfolded at Barker’s Pool around 8.45am on Saturday (June 6).
Faragab, who spoke through a Somali interpreter at Sheffield Magistrates Court today (Monday) had previously been in Belfast awaiting the outcome of his asylum application.
A solicitor representing the defendant said he had acted while “not really understanding the outrage that could potentially cause.”
Prosecutor Sherelle O’Brien described how this weekend police officers were called to Barker’s Pool where it was reported that the defendant was “removing numerous wreaths” from the war memorial.
She said: “The defendant was further observed tearing a wreath apart and throwing pieces of the wreath across the floor. The defendant was observed taking a wreath to Pinstone Street and placing it in a planter.”
Ms O’Brien said Faragab was “compliant” when challenged by police officers and returned the wreath to the cenotaph.
However she said a town centre ambassador described seeing the defendant “shouting loud” and behaving in an “aggressive” manner. The ambassador was “disgusted” by Faragab’s behaviour said Ms O’Brien.
Faragab was, the court heard, an asylum seeker previously living in Belfast and he had previously been handed a conditional discharge for Class A and Class B drugs possession - which he was now in breach of.
His solicitor Helen White said Faragab was “intoxicated” however he accepted that was not “sufficient” by way of a defence.
She said: “His behaviour is clearly disinhibited by alcohol. He has damaged wreaths at a war memorial, not really understanding the outrage that could potentially cause.”
Ms White said there was “little or no planning” behind the incident - which was done on “impulse”. Magistrates bailed Faragab pending a probation report. He will be sentenced at Sheffield Magistrates Court on July 24.
The defendant, of Chesterfield, admitted criminal damage.