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| Vandals target two historic sites | Vandals target two historic sites |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Two historic sites in Dorset have been targeted by vandals who have covered them in graffiti. | Two historic sites in Dorset have been targeted by vandals who have covered them in graffiti. |
| The ancient Nine Stones circle, beside the A35 at Winterbourne Abbas, near Dorchester, was targeted overnight. | |
| Dorset Police said white paint was also sprayed on the Hardy Monument near Portesham, erected in 1844 in memory of Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy. | |
| The graffiti includes the "F4J" slogan of Fathers 4 Justice, but the group strenuously denies any involvement. | The graffiti includes the "F4J" slogan of Fathers 4 Justice, but the group strenuously denies any involvement. |
| Five of the stone circles were targeted. | Five of the stone circles were targeted. |
| Shaun Flaherty, who works for a sub-contractor of English Heritage that looks after the stone circles site, called the graffiti "a disgrace". | Shaun Flaherty, who works for a sub-contractor of English Heritage that looks after the stone circles site, called the graffiti "a disgrace". |
| The stones lie beside the A35 and are surrounded by trees, one of which was also covered in paint. | The stones lie beside the A35 and are surrounded by trees, one of which was also covered in paint. |
| This could be a smear campaign against Fathers 4 Justice Matt O'Connor, Fathers 4 Justice | |
| Mr Flaherty, who was at the site to asses the damage, said: "There are five stones written on. It's very bad. | Mr Flaherty, who was at the site to asses the damage, said: "There are five stones written on. It's very bad. |
| "I think it's a disgrace - they've got no respect." | "I think it's a disgrace - they've got no respect." |
| The Hardy Monument was also targeted with the "F4J" slogan, Dorset Police said. | The Hardy Monument was also targeted with the "F4J" slogan, Dorset Police said. |
| The monument commemorates Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy's achievements as captain of HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. | The monument commemorates Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy's achievements as captain of HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. |
| Matt O'Connor, of Fathers 4 Justice, said the vandalism was nothing to do with the group, which campaigns for fathers' rights. | Matt O'Connor, of Fathers 4 Justice, said the vandalism was nothing to do with the group, which campaigns for fathers' rights. |
| "This could be a smear campaign against Fathers 4 Justice," he said. | "This could be a smear campaign against Fathers 4 Justice," he said. |
| Tor tower targeted | Tor tower targeted |
| "We would just say to people, judge us by the actions which we always put our hands up to." | "We would just say to people, judge us by the actions which we always put our hands up to." |
| On 11 October, two Fathers 4 Justice protesters were fined for climbing on to the ancient Wiltshire monument, Stonehenge. | On 11 October, two Fathers 4 Justice protesters were fined for climbing on to the ancient Wiltshire monument, Stonehenge. |
| Richard West, 40, of Ottery St Mary, Devon, and Jolly Stanesby, 36, from Ivybridge, Devon, scaled the monument in February. | Richard West, 40, of Ottery St Mary, Devon, and Jolly Stanesby, 36, from Ivybridge, Devon, scaled the monument in February. |
| They were found guilty of unlawfully climbing a national monument at Salisbury Magistrates' Court and fined £100 each with £100 costs. | They were found guilty of unlawfully climbing a national monument at Salisbury Magistrates' Court and fined £100 each with £100 costs. |
| Graffiti sprayed on to a tower on Glastonbury Tor has also been removed this month at a cost of £2,000. | Graffiti sprayed on to a tower on Glastonbury Tor has also been removed this month at a cost of £2,000. |
| The southern face of St Michael's Tower was targeted overnight on 1 October after £500,000 was recently spent restoring the building. | The southern face of St Michael's Tower was targeted overnight on 1 October after £500,000 was recently spent restoring the building. |
| Fathers 4 Justice confirmed one of its sympathisers was responsible. | Fathers 4 Justice confirmed one of its sympathisers was responsible. |