Security guards protect Portsmouth's Royal Navy memorial after vile drunks used it as a toilet

Disgusting drunks sparked fury after defecating on Portsmouth’s Naval Memorial, on Southsea Common.

The monument was built to honour almost 25,000 sailors who died battling to defend Britain’s freedoms.

But filthy yobs have defaced the site in recent weeks, leaving faeces smeared on walls and used toilet roll dumped in flower beds.

The disgraceful treatment of the site prompted Portsmouth City Council to draft in guards from Southsea-based Vespasian Security.

The firm is one of the city’s main security companies and was previously employed to protect the Common when world leaders descended to the city for last year’s D-Day 75 commemoration.

Oliver Gardiner, Vespasian boss, said the shocking state of the memorial had left his staff – which includes many veterans – horrified.

He added: ‘As a company, we felt immense pride in our involvement with the 2019 75th anniversary commemoration event held on Southsea Common.

‘Rightly, the war memorial was the focal point for that global event and to see the site misused in any way is frustrating and very distressing for many in Portsmouth.’

Council contractors were needed to clear the mess from the monument last week.

The guards were called in on Wednesday but have been stood down this week as the sunny spells and hot weather ended.

The defacing of the site appalled the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which tends to the memorial.

Speaking to The News last week, the commission said it ‘strongly condemned the wholly inappropriate and disrespectful’ treatment of the site.

‘It saddens us that in the year in which we mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, our memorial has been treated in this manner, but we will never allow the actions of a few to mar the memory of the many,’ a spokesman added.

The attack comes amid a surge in anti-social behaviour and disorder in the south of the city during lockdown.

Police have had to step up enforcement action on the Common, following a series of brawls and increased drug use.

Hampshire Constabulary last week introduced another dispersal order covering the Common in a bid to break up large groups and quell the disorder.

Earlier this month a video showing 20-year-old Rebecca Paige Grant being stamped on and kicked on the Common went viral, being view more than one million times.

On Wednesday two women appeared in court charged with the alleged assault.

Aunt and niece duo Minnie-Mo Hunt, 25 of High Street, Cosham and her niece Daisy Hunt, 22, of Berkshire Close, Landport, have been charged attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

The pair entered no plea and remanded in custody to appear at Portsmouth Crown Court on July 27.

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