A man who pulled down his trousers in a cathedral has been jailed.
Nicholas Courtney, who had not taken his meds, said he went into Exeter Cathedral because he was overcome with a desire to "give everything to God". After putting £20 in the donation box he dropped his trousers in front of a crowd of tourists, climbed onto the High Altar and kicked off a pair of ceremonial candlesticks. Then he sprinted out of the West exit, hit a passer-by (who hit him back), before running over to a 70-year-old woman who was posing for a photograph and punching her in the face.
Courtney's religious ecstasy was brought to an end by members of the public who jumped on top of him. After he was restrained he said, “Oh God, what have I done? I can't come back here, I will get a kicking. This is God's waiting room, isn't it?”
Courtney plead guilty to criminal damage for breaking a crucifix and GBH for causing his elderly victim to break her wrist when she fell. In his defence his lawyer said Courtney viewed his actions "as despicable and totally beyond reason”. He was jailed for 26 months.
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Nicholas Courtney, who had not taken his meds, said he went into Exeter Cathedral because he was overcome with a desire to "give everything to God". After putting £20 in the donation box he dropped his trousers in front of a crowd of tourists, climbed onto the High Altar and kicked off a pair of ceremonial candlesticks. Then he sprinted out of the West exit, hit a passer-by (who hit him back), before running over to a 70-year-old woman who was posing for a photograph and punching her in the face.
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Courtney arrives in court |
Courtney's religious ecstasy was brought to an end by members of the public who jumped on top of him. After he was restrained he said, “Oh God, what have I done? I can't come back here, I will get a kicking. This is God's waiting room, isn't it?”
Courtney plead guilty to criminal damage for breaking a crucifix and GBH for causing his elderly victim to break her wrist when she fell. In his defence his lawyer said Courtney viewed his actions "as despicable and totally beyond reason”. He was jailed for 26 months.