A thug tore down Christmas lights and vandalised a World War Two memorial in a late night attack at a church.
CCTV captured a man destroying flowers and even attempting to topple a historic grave at a WWII memorial.
Staff found the churchyard in disarray after a shocking act of late-night vandalism.
READ MORE: Topless drunk man wielding a seven inch knife put in cuffs by cops
It’s outdoor string lights had been ripped down, with every bulb removed and smashed across the road and a memorial had been “desecrated.”
It happened at St Andrew’s Church in Hove, East Sussex on Monday (1 Dec).
A spokesperson said: “Sad to find that the church outside string lights had been torn down last night and each bulb taken out and smashed on the road.”
“When we checked the CCTV we found that the WW2 memorial Lych Gate was vandalised with flowers being ripped out, signs ripped off the walls and sign post kicked over.
“More concerning, the person had desecrated one of the historic graves by trying to pull it over.
“It often feels that the battle to maintain the churchyard for community use is being lost due to the huge volume of anti-social behaviour that happens in the area.
“Really hard as the work we want to do is to help those people.
“But whether or not we have Christmas lights the church will be open and everyone is welcome to come and celebrate joy at ST. Andrew’s this Christmas.
“Jesus is the most intriguing, controversial and important person in history, come and find out why,”
Residents slammed the thug as the local “grinch”.
One person said: “I didn’t know the Grinch lived in Hove?
“The good news is that the light is in our hearts, and no-one can snuff those out if we don’t let them.”
READ MORE: Two thieves in Covid masks raid Boots in broad daylight in upmarket area of capital
