ILMINSTER NEWS: No police action over reindeer vandalism

POLICE have announced that they will be taking no further action following the vandalism which saw two decorative reindeers badly damaged outside an Ilminster hotel.

The reindeer had been installed outside the Shrubbery Hotel in Station Road as part of a winter wonderland feature.

But they became targets for mindless vandals who damaged them on two separate occasions – with the second time seeing broken-off bits of the reindeer scattered down the street.

The vandalism outraged local people and deeply saddened hotel bosses – but thankfully members of Ilminster Town FC worked their magic to rebuild the reindeer and have them back on display in time for Christmas.

PHOTO - TOP: The reindeer before the vandalism.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Bits of the reindeer scattered down Station Road after the vandalism.

People wanted the perpetrators caught and made to pay for their actions.

But PC Andy Stuart, of Ilminster police, said that a lack of evidence had proved difficult to do anything.

“Police were provided with the names of two possible ‘suspects’ but no evidence has been forthcoming in relation to the names,” he told members of Ilminster Town Council last Tuesday (January 19, 2016) evening.

“I have spoken to both named individuals who both denied any involvement and as there is nobody who has come forward to provide a statement of any kind, there is to be no further action taken against those individuals.”

PHOTO - ABOVE: What was left outside the Shrubbery Hotel after the vandalised reindeer had been taken down.