Post by Focus on Feb 19, 2013 11:20:31 GMT
An historic castle suffered irreparable damage at the hands of mindless teenage vandals who targeted ancient walls and threw a medieval relic down a well, a court heard yesterday.
Two Polish youths living in the UK showed no concern for the rich 2,500 year history of the Scarborough Castle site when they carried out their ‘soul destroying attack.’
The judge said youths were invading the ancient English Heritage tourist attraction ‘on almost a nightly basis’ and he warned yobs could face jail for damaging the nation’s ancient monuments in future.
Sentenced : Norbert Borowicz, left, and Matt Fractowiek, right, pictured outside York Crown Court where they were sentenced to community service for vandalising Scarborough Castle
Norbert Borowicz and Matt Fractowiek, both 18, appeared at York Crown Court and were sentenced to carry out unpaid community work after admitting causing £5,000 of damage in May last year.
The court heard the castle was regarded by English Heritage as ‘a nationally important monument and one of the principal historic attractions in the north of England.’
Around 60,000 people visit the stunning coastal location every year.
Remains of a Roman Signal Station date back to the 4th Century and much of the 12th Century castle tower still stands for visitors to admire.
There have been four sieges and a bombardment from German battleships down the centuries, but the latest damage was caused by two Polish teenagers living in the seaside resort.
Philip Evans, prosecuting, said the damage was caused overnight after the site was closed by officials.
Vandals : Matt Fractkowiek and Norbert Borowicz caused £5,000 of damage to the castle in what judges described as a 'soul-destroying attack'
Brazen : Police investigating the damage later found 'jubilant' pictures of the teenagers celebrating their destructive rampage posted on 'the Polish equivalent of Facebook'
‘There was damage to historic stone located in the upper parts of the lower walls,’ he said. Parts of the stone had been ‘broken off’ and ‘fragmented from the fabric of the monument.’
A large stone block, thought to be part of a medieval door frame, was detached and thrown down a well in the grounds.
There was also damage to modern facilities including an aluminium information panel, which had been kicked off its stand, and damage to a flag pole.
Police investigating the damage later found ‘jubilant’ pictures of the teenagers celebrating their destructive rampage posted on ‘the Polish equivalent of Facebook.’
‘Some of the photographs appeared to show some of the artefacts which were damaged,’ said Mr Evans.
Damage : Signs at the 2,500-year-old castle were trashed in the act of vandalism last year
Costly : Damaged stonework caused last May at the Roman ruin in North Yorkshire
‘They were smiling with their hands raised.’ Borowicz had entered the castle grounds by climbing over a wall and had been there twice before with friends to cause damage, the court was told.
His barrister Taryn Turner said he felt ‘thoroughly ashamed.’ ‘His family who value the opportunity for them in the country are disgusted.’
She added: ‘For those people who live in Scarborough and are proud of their castle it is bad enough to see it crumbling away as a consequence of nature.
‘When people damage it in this way it is soul destroying because a lot of it is irreplaceable.’ Borowicz was ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work and Fractowiek 40 hours.
Judge Stephen Ashurst was clearly shocked by the wanton damage.
He said: ‘Some members of the public may think that people who damage important public monuments in a way they cannot be replaced should go to prison.
‘If people carry out acts of vandalism when they are there then sooner or later the courts may have to take a harder line and consider short custodial sentences.
Laughing : The pair pictured outside York Crown Court, where they were sentenced yesterday
‘I express considerable sympathy for the authorities who have a very difficult to maintain security of important public buildings and monuments at a time their budgets are being put under strict control.’
After the hearing Peter Bleach, the English Heritage castle manager at the time of the incident, said he believed metal theft was a motive behind the vandalism.
‘English Heritage sites across the country are being hit by metal thieves in a very systematic way and I don’t think Scarborough Castle was any exception,’ he said.
Commenting on the damage to the Roman ruins at the castle, he said: ‘It’s like burning the Mona Lisa.’
‘The Roman ruin is not quite the same and never will be again - even though it’s been extremely well patched up.’ Scarborough Castle has a colourful history dating back 2,500 years.
Stunning : Scarborough Castle started life as an Iron Age fort, was occupied by the Romans, became a Viking settlement and later a royal stronghold
Historic : The castle's active history was effectively ended by two German warships which fired more than 500 shells on the castle and town in December 1914
It started life as an Iron Age fort, was occupied by the Romans, became a Viking settlement and later a royal stronghold.
The 12th Century tower built by Henry 11 is the centrepiece of the ruined castle that stands today.
In 1536 an aristocratic supporter of King Henry V111 came under attack during a popular uprising but successfully held the castle.
Twenty years later Thomas Stafford seized the castle believing he could incite a revolt against Queen Mary but it was recaptured and the traitors executed.
It was twice besieged during the English Civil War and became a prison and later a garrisoned fort.
The castle’s active history was effectively ended by two German warships which fired more than 500 shells on the castle and town in December 1914 -- DISRESPECTFUL little b--tards!! - Fx 
