A law lecturer who destroyed the Madame Tussauds nativity scene featuring David and Victoria Beckham escaped jail today.
James Anstice (39), was given a 12-month conditional discharge at Bow Street Magistrate's Court after pleading guilty to one count of criminal damage.
He had been infuriated that celebrities were being used to portray the birth of Jesus at the famous waxworks museum in London, the court heard.
On December 12th he leapt over the cordon, pushed the figure of David to the floor and seized the head of Victoria, who was dressed as Mary.
He then sped off with the wax head under one arm, but it slipped to the floor smashing to pieces, causing some £2,500 worth of damage.
The prosecution told how Anstice had paid for his entrance to the museum with a credit card and was soon traced by police.
"It was very difficult to know what to do," Anstice said. "I cannot justify vandalism. There had been very large protests [about the nativity scene] but Madame Tussauds weren't doing anything to review that or respect that."
Anstice said he had nothing against the famous couple but was outraged that they should used to represent religious figures
PA