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Man denies charge over Churchill statue graffiti

News imagePA Media The bronze statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, London, is shown defaced with bright red spray paint. Large slogans, including "FREE PALESTINE," are visible across the front of the monument's coat. The red paint also covers the statue's hands and walking stick.PA Media
The Sir Winston Churchill statue, on Parliament Square, was defaced on Friday

A man has denied criminal damage after graffiti was sprayed on a statue of Sir Winston Churchill.

The bronze monument in Parliament Square, opposite the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, was defaced with phrases including "Stop the Genocide" and "Free Palestine".

Further graffiti read "Never again is Now" and "Globalise the Intifada" sprayed in red paint.

The Metropolitan Police said Caspar San Giorgio, of no fixed address, was arrested shortly after 4:00 GMT on Friday following the incident and was charged with criminal damage in the early hours of Saturday. The 38-year-old appeared at Westminster Magistrate's Court on Monday morning.

When asked to confirm his name, he said it was Olax Outis, but Katie McFadden, defending, added it is Caspar San Giorgio on his passport, and he pleaded not guilty.

He is accused of damaging the statue to the value of £11,970, the court heard.

He was remanded into custody by Judge Caroline Jackson, who told him he will next appear at Southwark Crown Court on 30 March.

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