Jobless mum-of-five jailed after she was filmed urinating on war memorial on eve of 100th anniversary of Battle of the Somme
Vile Kelly Martin pleaded not guilty to two counts of outraging public decency despite the damning footage but she will now serve a seven month jail term
A JOBLESS mum-of-five who urinated on a war memorial was jailed today.
Disrespectful Kelly Martin, 42, was spotted by a police officer relieving herself next to poppy wreaths laid at the monument.
She was then filmed committing the same act seven weeks later on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the battle of the Somme.
Despite the shocking images Martin denied two counts of outraging public decency.
She was convicted by a jury at Basildon crown court.
Jailing her for seven months, Judge John Lodge blasted: “War memorials were constructed in the middle of villages and towns to so that on a daily basis people could be reminded of their sacrifice.
“Often people congregate around them in itself that is not wrong but when people step far beyond that by urinating on them that is a matter which the court needs to take seriously.”
The court heard how both incidents, on April 13 and June 30, occurred around 1pm in clear view of families in Grays, Essex.
Prosecutor Juliet Donovan said: “The officer described her has having a beer in her hand and struggling to pull her trousers up, the officer then said he was disgusted and shocked to his core that someone could be so offensive.”
Ms Donovan told the court the officer said Martin had squared up to him and swore at him when he calmly asked what she was doing before he arrested her.
Alcoholic Martin of Grays, Essex, was also found guilty of one charge of assaulting a paramedic and one charge of harassing him after throwing an empty glass bottle of Smirnoff vodka at his head and rubbing her naked backside on his leg.
Martin was told she will serve half her sentence on licence, minus the 71 days already served in custody.
Speaking after the hearing, army veteran Kenneth Campbell, from Veterans Radio Net, said: “I’m disappointed by the sentence that the judge gave but his hands were tied, he had no sentencing guidelines to work with.”
“And that is why we will petitioning to have it put on the statute books, it needs to be put in black and white and made a crime on its own.”
Army veteran Stan Kaye, said: “Anyone who desecrates a war memorial, a war grave, or any grave would affect me personally.
“I’m disappointed as I was hoping in my heart of hearts that she would get a stiffer sentence.”