Man defaced Dereham memorial and assaulted police officers

Eyewitnesses say Nathaniel Ling, 38, used his hands to dig holes around Dereham’s 103-year-old memorial while sipping on bottles of Corona lager.

He is then believed to have launched an attack on two police officers who had been called to the scene.

Police arrived at Market Place around 6pm on Monday, October 6 following reports that a man had been causing damage to cars and the memorial on the roundabout.

Ling, who was arrested and taken to Wymondham Police Station for questioning, was later charged and remanded in custody.

At a hearing at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, October 8, Ling pleaded guilty to a count of criminal damage and two counts of assault on two police officers. 

Ling leaving Norwich Magistrates' Court in 2023(Image: Newsquest)

Prior to the assaults, a shopkeeper in Market Place saw Ling lying on his stomach in the middle of the memorial digging holes and drinking beer.

“I did think it was a bit odd”, he said. 

“I’ve seen some weird things in Dereham and that was just one of them. No random sober person would’ve done it.”

Dereham Town Council has now repaired the damage by filling the holes.

A spokesman for the council said: “With respect to the digging up of the flower beds, this was extremely disappointing, while the cost of repair was minor, it is not so much the value of the damage but that the garden was treated with such little respect.

The memorial has stood in Dereham for more than 100 years(Image: Google Maps)

“While it is not a war grave, the memorial and gardens are given a level of reverence in people’s minds well above that of an ordinary flower bed. 

“The whole area is dedicated to those of Dereham who gave their lives for this country and deserves the utmost respect for this reason.”

Ling has a recorded history of violent and anti-social offences. 

In 2023, he threatened to stab and rip out the throat of his mother's neighbour who he had not been supposed to contact.

And earlier this year, he was arrested after police officers found nunchucks on him during a routine stop and search in Norwich.

Magistrates’ said that his actions in Dereham this week "were so serious only a custodial sentence was justified".

A PIECE OF HISTORY

Dereham's flagship war memorial features a two-stepped base surmounted by cenotaph of Cornish grey granite. It has stood in the town for more than 100 years.

It was unveiled four years after the end of the First World War in October 1922, and honours the 159 men from Dereham who died during the conflict.

Fifty-seven more names were added in 1945 to remember the Dereham men killed during the Second World War.

There have been two names added since, and their names sit on a new brass panel installed in 2011 to honour those who have died in more recent conflicts.

A new plaque was added in 2011(Image: Lostancestors)

Jonathan Wormald was 20-years-old when he died while serving in Korea, and is also honoured with a plaque in St Nicholas' Church.

The other name on the poignant plaque is Lewis Hendry. He was killed in 2011 while serving in Afghanistan.

Both men lost their life after WW2(Image: Lostancestors)