A man has been admitted to a mental health hospital following the vandalism of the grave of murdered toddler James Bulger, marking the second time his resting place has been targeted.
Incident Details
Police were called to Kirkdale Cemetery on Friday, April 10, after reports of damage to the grave. Officers discovered that several other graves had also been vandalised, with ornaments stolen from them.
Arrest and Detention
A 78-year-old man from the Lancashire area was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and theft. He was taken to a police station in Merseyside and has since been detained under Section 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983, which allows for compulsory detention. Merseyside Police confirmed he has been admitted to a mental health hospital.
Police Statement
Detective Inspector Jemma Berry said: "The 78-year-old man was detained under section 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983 under compulsory detention and our investigation has now concluded. During the investigation detectives established that several graves were targeted within Kirkdale Cemetery."
She added: "Stolen ornaments from gravestones were also recovered by our officers during the investigation and have now been returned to the rightful families. We understand this incident would have caused concern for the local community and I hope members of the public feel reassured by this decision."
Community Reassurance
DI Berry thanked James' family and the other affected families for their support and encouraged anyone with concerns to speak to officers or contact their local police station. Anyone with information can contact Merseyside Police via @MerPolCC quoting reference 26000282253, or call 101.
James Bulger was two years old when he was abducted, tortured and murdered by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson in 1993, a case that shocked the nation.
