Vandals apologise to congregation

The church was made famous in BBC comedy series Jam and Jerusalem

Two teenagers who daubed graffiti on a 750-year-old parish church in Devon have apologised to the congregation.

The girls, aged 14 and 15, together with a 16-year-old boy, were initially charged with causing criminal damage to St Peter's Church in North Tawton.

The charges were dropped after Exeter Youth Court heard they admitted responsibility and had been given a final warning by police.

The Rev Dr Brian Ardill said a line had now been drawn under the incident.

The youngsters had daubed dozens of smiley faces and lewd slogans on walls and gravestones at the church in September.

They both stood up in front of the congregation and said they were sorry for their actions The Rev Dr Brian Ardill

The girls spent two afternoons removing the graffiti and then apologised in person to the congregation at the Sunday morning service.

Dr Ardill said: "They both stood up in front of the congregation and said they were sorry for their actions.

"They had each prepared a little piece to say and did a very professional job.

"The congregation welcomed them and forgave them and we have drawn a line under it now."

Earlier Dr Ardill had said the church, which had featured in the BBC comedy series Jam and Jerusalem, was "very much treasured" by the congregation.

He added that the general feeling from the community had been that giving the teenagers a criminal record might have had a negatively impact when applying for university or jobs.

"They shouldn't have done it but to have a permanent black mark against them could actually cause them to say 'yes, we're criminals, we'll stay criminals' and the slippery slope could start," he said.