Man leaves ‘unholy mess’ in Town Church pulpit

The following day, the same person was seen urinating against a pillar in the church before lying down and going to sleep on a pew.

Jason Free McDonald, 49, admitted both offences when he appeared in the Magistrate’s Court from custody yesterday.

Prosecuting advocate Marc Davies told the court how on 6 August the warden entered the historic church, which dates back to the 13th century, to carry out her duties when she came upon the mess in the pulpit. She cleaned it up with a bio-hazard kit and CCTV was checked.

It showed McDonald entering the church at about 3.30pm and walking towards the pulpit, where he lowered his trousers and defecated. He wiped himself on paper he had taken into the church with him, which he also left there.

The next day, at about 1.45pm, CCTV footage showed McDonald staggering into the church and urinating against a pillar before lying down and going to sleep in a pew.

In interview following his arrest, he told police he was aware that there were public toilets nearby and said he did not know why he had not used them. When shown the CCTV he said: ‘Jesus, this is embarrassing’, and told them he had been drunk.

Advocate Clare Tee said her client had no recollection of the events, having consumed a significant amount of alcohol.

He did not seek to downplay his disgusting behaviour but there was nothing to suggest that he had deliberately targeted the church. He had been in a downward spiral of alcohol and drugs after losing his accommodation. He had an unenviable record but there had been nothing on it since 2015. That period coincided with him having employment, accommodation, and a relationship with his family. He had since sought help and was looking to get his life back on track.

Judge Graeme McKerrell said the defendant had a terrible record but he noted the significant gap in offending between 2015 and 2022.

‘Irrespective of your religious beliefs about the church, this was disgusting,’ he said. ‘Not just for the act itself but equally for the person who had to clear up the unholy mess.

‘Your life might have fallen apart through drink or drugs but it cannot excuse your behaviour, which was appalling.’

For defecating, which attracted a criminal damage charge, McDonald was jailed for 21 days. For urinating, which was disorderly behaviour, seven days consecutive was added, which took the total to 28 days.

Judge McKerrell said the sentences would have been longer had it not been for a 12-month probation order which he was also imposing.