Jesus statue on Warrington war memorial is smashed and daubed with anti-Catholic graffiti days before Remembrance Sunday

Canon Christopher Cunningham, parish priest at St Alban's Catholic Church on Bewsey Street in Warrington, described the incident as "true persecution" after vandals beheaded the crucifix and spray-painted "no cross s**t y" across the memorial's plaque. Cheshire Police have classified the incident as a hate crime and published CCTV footage of a man they are seeking to identify.

The memorial commemorates parishioners who died in both World Wars, and police believe the damage was caused on Friday, October 30, between 6pm and 10pm.

Forensic examination of the site is continuing, and residents are being urged to check any doorbell camera footage, dashcam recordings, or mobile phone video captured during that Friday evening period.

Chief Inspector Joseph McNally called the vandalism "completely unacceptable", saying places of worship "should be safe and welcoming environments".