The grave of Black Country Victoria Cross -winning hero Anthony Booth was desecrated by a lawnmower, police have confirmed. Aug 2017

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Police have revealed that they are now NOT treating the damage as a crime - but Dudley Council said they had not received any reports from its maintenance teams saying the grave had been damaged by them.

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said: “Police are not investigating a damaged grave in St Michael’s Church in Brierley Hill any further as it is believed the damage was caused accidentally by a council lawnmower.”

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environmental services at the council, told the Express & Star : “We have no evidence to suggest that this was damaged by a lawnmower and we have had no reports from our staff.

“This is a very important memorial paying tribute to a local hero and we would urge anyone with any information to come forward as soon as possible.”

The grave of Black Country Victoria Cross -winning hero Anthony Booth was desecrated by a lawnmower, police have confirmed.

Anthony was awarded the VC in recognition of his bravery on the Intombe River, South Africa, during the Zulu war.

He held off 400 Zulu warriors with just a handful of men on March 12, 1879.

The VC is the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He died of rheumatic fever and jaundice at his home on December 8, 1899, at the age of 53.

Anthony was buried with military honours, and his Victoria Cross is displayed at the Museum of the Staffordshire Regiment in Whittington, Staffordshire.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Sgt Booth's repaired & renovated grave. Photo by Tim Needham.

Desecration '.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]