Drunk Man Fined £11K for Church Break-In

0:00On March 10, a 50-year-old man from East London has been hit with a fine of more than 11,415 pounds after breaking into a historic church and causing damage. Craig Knight smashed a stained glass window at St. Anne's Church in Q on January 10, while drunk. He left traces of blood on the altar and floor, took two brass candlesticks and even opened a box of ashes in the mausoleum behind the altar. The church's reverend found the mess and felt angry at first, but he and others softened when Knight returned the candlesticks and showed deep remorse by reporting himself to police. Knight pleaded guilty to criminal damage and removing human remains from a burial place. Magistrates gave him a 12-month community order, ordered 60 hours of unpaid work and included legal costs in the fine, noting his recklessness. This incident at the grade 2 listed church, founded in 1714 and home to graves of famous artists and a botanist, underscores the value of quick accountability and protecting sacred spaces.