A teenage yob was caught spitting on a memorial to 23 policemen who gave their life in the First World War.
CCTV captured the 17-year-old gobbing on the memorial stone which also commemorates a policeman who died in the line of duty in the Silvertown Explosion of 1917 which killed 73 and left over 400 injured.
The stone is next to the entrance of Forest Gate Police Station.
His DNA was taken from the spit and because the thug’s DNA was on the national database because he known to police he was easily traced to his address in Ilford.
The youth was handed a 12 month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £75 compensation for the criminal damage after he appeared at Stratford Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
District Judge Sims branded the teenager’s actions “not just disrespectful, but despicable”.
Chief Superintendent Richard Tucker, said: “I hope that this sentence warns other against vandalism of any type.
“This act was particularly disrespectful against officers who selflessly gave their lives in the Great War.”
The memorial stone was unveiled on 4 August 2014 to remember 23 K Division officers who gave their lives during the Great War.
K Division now comprises boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Tower Hamlets, Redbridge and Newham.
An additional policeman was killed by an explosion at a munitions factory in Silvertown and was posthumously awarded the King’s Policing Medal by King George V.
Four and a half thousand members and ex-members of the Metropolitan Police Service joined the Armed Forces during WW1 and WW2, of these more than 500 lost their lives on active service or through enemy action.
Scotland Yard said: A teenage boy appeared at Stratford Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 3 September accused of criminal damage after spitting on a First World War memorial in Newham.
“The 17-year-old from Ilford was given a 12 month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £75 compensation.
“On Thursday, 10 May the 17-year-old was seen on CCTV by officers spiting on the memorial stone set in the ground at the entrance of Forest Gate Police Station in Green Street.
“Investigators extracted DNA evidence from the stone.
“A DNA match came back to the teenager who was arrested and charged with criminal damage on Tuesday, 14 August.”