Smiles of man who spat on hero's medals
A man who spat on a war veteran's medals at a memorial service has been ordered to do community service.
Timothy House was proudly wearing his late grandfather Samuel Steadman's medals for Remembrance Sunday in November when he was spat at by Serwan Abdullah, Portsmouth Magistrates' Court heard.
Mr House, 44, from Southsea, had taken a 90-year-old wheelchair-bound veteran to the service and they were enjoying a drink outside Lloyds bar in Guildhall Walk when Abdullah approached.
The 23-year-old, who was with a friend, spat at Mr House and it landed on his medals.
Prosecutor Alicia Keen said: 'Mr House says he had a broken hip and wasn't able to pursue them but probably would have, so upset was he by the spitting, particularly that it landed on the medals.
'He thought it was disrespectful as well as being quite horrible in any events.'
The police were called and they arrested Abdullah at a hostel in Railway View, Landport, Portsmouth.
Abdullah, of Victoria Road South, Southsea, who has previous convictions for offences including theft, had pleaded not guilty to assault, saying he was spat at first. But he failed to turn up for his trial last month.
He was found guilty in his absence but Simon Moger, defending, said his client did not realise he had missed the hearing until he read about it in The News.
Abdullah admitted a second charge of failing to surrender to court.
Chairman of the bench, Stuart Chittenden, said: 'Mr Abdullah the offence you have been convicted on, assault by spitting, is particularly abhorrent to society.'
He handed him a 12 month community order with 240 hours of community service.
He must also pay 100 compensation and 100 costs.
Mr House, who inherited the medals in 1991 after the death of his grandfather, said: 'I was totally angry at what happened and could not believe the lack of respect.'
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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