Winston Churchill inspired me, says 79-year-old convicted of criminal damage after removing banner from outside Carnlough hotel

​Richard Verdun Price-Stephens, with an address listed as Marine Road, Carnlough, was convicted of two charges of causing criminal damage.

He appeared at Antrim Magistrates' Court, sitting in Ballymena, and contested charges that he caused criminal damage to an advertising banner belonging to The Harbourview Hotel in Carnlough on July 20 last year.

He was also accused of causing criminal damage to a banner and two barrels belonging to the hotel on August 3 last year.

The court was told that on July 13 the defendant had “pulled down” the banner and brought it into the hotel.

It was alleged that on that occasion he was “causing a scene, shouting in front of customers” and was “removed by staff”.

On July 20 the banner was painted over with green paint and was “pulled down”. Two large barrels belonging to the hotel were damaged.

The banner was “replaced”. Barrels had been retrieved from the harbour.

The court was told a banner was damaged by paint on Sunday August 3.

The total damage was “£814”.

The defendant told the court Carnlough was a ‘Conservation Area’.

He said he was concerned about the planning status of the banner and barrels.

The defendant accepted he had taken down the banner and painted it.

He said he had painted it because “leaving it back” to the hotel “didn't work”.

He said he had acted because “I look after my environment” and “am very proud of my village”.

The defendant said if banners are allowed to go up “anywhere” they will begin to appear at places like the Dark Hedges and the Giant's Causeway.

A prosecutor told the defendant “you cannot take the law into your own hands”.

The defendant said reporting matters to the authorities “doesn't work” and instead is a “quagmire”.

He said: “If I did break the law, I broke it with a good motive, looking after your environment”. He continued: “I don't mind going to prison.”

He added: “Act today, that is how I work. Winston Churchill said 'action today' and that is why we won the war.”

The prosecutor said Churchill had “ties” with The Harbourview Hotel which was formerly called The Londonderry Arms.

The defendant added: “Since the whole thing they haven't put another banner on the harbour.”

He said “you do not let people desecrate your harbour”.

Convicting Price-Stephens of the two charges of criminal damage, District Judge Nigel Broderick said the defendant said he painted over the banner and barrels to “protect the environment of Carnlough Harbour” and “he maintains the banners and barrels were placed there in contravention of planning legislation and/or in the absence of consent from the harbour master”.

He said the defendant “cannot take the law into his own hands”.

The judge said if Price-Stephens “had any concerns that were valid in terms of any possible breach of any planning legislation” he should have brought them “to the attention of the statutory agency who are charged or engaged with enforcing any said planning legislation”.

The judge said the defendant was “not entitled to take a paint brush and paint over the banners and the barrels because that incurred expense to the owners of the hotel at the sum of approximately £814. I am not satisfied that the defendant was entitled to take the action he did”.

The judge added: “I am satisfied the prosecution have proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt,” and convicted the defendant.

Price-Stephens told the court he was "very concerned" at the outcome.

He was fined £300 and was ordered to pay compensation of £814.