Heartless vandals trashed the grave of a World War Two veteran at a cemetery in north Manchester. A group of youths are believed to have targeted several graves at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Cemetery in Moston last Sunday (June 26).
Karol Kamil Peruta discovered the damage in the Polish section of the cemetery, off Moston Lane, the next morning. A sculpture on one grave was 'destroyed' while litter including dog excrement, empty beer bottles and snap bags of drugs were strewn across others.
"I have no idea what happened," said Mr Peruta, who looks after the cemetery's Polish graves in his free time. "I came to put a few new plaques on the graves and noticed empty beer bottles on the road and on the graves.
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"There was dog poo on the graves and plaques, empty bottles, empty bags of drugs and lots of rubbish."
A wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ, which was built into the headstone of a former soldier who served in the Polish Armed Forces during World War Two, had also been burnt.
"It was handmade by the family of one of the veterans," Mr Peruta explained. "It's a beautiful sculpture and very expensive. It's always been there."
Mr Peruta has spent the last seven years lovingly cleaning and restoring dozens of graves along with his father, Waldemar. Prior to that, he claims many were left neglected for three decades.
"I've been doing this for free to try to bring the memory of these people back to life," he explained. "These graves belong to people who were fighting on the same side as the British. Our histories are joined.
"They deserve our respect. It's heartbreaking to see the damage."
Mr Peruta was able to clean up some of the damage and says he is trying to arrange for the sculpture to be put back in its position. The vandalism has been reported to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), however, Mr Peruta says an officer told him the case was being closed as it was unlikely they would be able to identify those responsible.
It is not the first time vandals have targeted the cemetery, he says. On previous occasions, Mr Peruta has found human excrement on and around the graves.
Yet despite his anger and frustration, Mr Peruta says he also 'feels sorry' for the vandals. "I don't think it's anything against the Polish community in the UK," he explained.
"They are kids who have nothing to do and are looking for a hiding spot to have a drink, a bonfire and take some drugs. This cemetery is not a safe place in the evenings."
A spokesperson for GMP confirmed the vandalism had been reported to officers. Anyone with information is asked to report it online or via LiveChat at www.gmp.police.uk or call 101. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
