A SWASTIKA vandal went on a spray paint wrecking spree taking in a war memorial in Greenock – because he was homeless and wanted to be jailed.
Richard Whittaker claimed he’d listened to ‘a voice in his head’ before defacing the monument and a number of parked cars after signing over his children for adoption.
The 24-year-old – who was also carrying a knife ‘for protection’ – later walked in to Greenock police office and confessed to daubing the sickening graffiti.
Whittaker attacked three vehicles, the ‘Ginger the Horse’ sculpture, a bus stop and a pub door, as well as the town’s Radical War Memorial with black paint during his wrecking spree.
Greenock Sheriff Court heard how he sprayed Nazi-style swastikas on Ginger and the bonnet of a car parked near the rear of the police office.
Prosecutor Pamela Brady said: “The accused purchased a can of black spray paint and sprayed a white Mercedes car and also a silver-coloured Ford Mondeo.
“He went to Cathcart Square and sprayed a war memorial and then daubed a swastika on another monument.
“He spray painted a swastika on a bus stop.
“In the harbour area behind Greenock police office, he a sprayed a swastika on the bonnet of another car. He then went into the police office, admitted what he had just done and handed over the can of spray paint.
“The accused told officers he wanted the jail because he was homeless. He was told that he was going to be searched and he produced a Stanley blade, saying that it was for his own protection.”
Whittaker was previously a resident in Inverclyde but had been living in Malta and also England prior to his latest offences.
The Telegraph told last year how he was jailed for locking two terrified women social workers in his Greenock flat and threatening to set his partner on fire.
Both females were so frightened that they used a sofa to barricade the living room door.
Whittaker had hitch-hiked from Swindon to Greenock to sign away his parental rights prior to carrying out the vandalism on August 30. Homeless centre staff had told him that he could only be accommodated for two nights in Inverclyde. After carrying out the spray paint attacks, Whittaker told police: “I sat down and had a talk to myself and listened to the voice in my head.
“I felt guilty about re-offending but I did it to be put back in prison and get the help I need.”
His lawyer, Nadine Dormer, informed the court that Whittaker had tried to start a new life in Malta with his grandparents but both had recently passed away, causing him to return to the UK.
His mother couldn’t take him in due to her own mental health issues and he would not be eligible for any benefits until he’d been back in the country for three months, the court heard.
Ms Dormer said: “These were desperate acts on a desperate day for which he is truly sorry.”
The Radical War Memorial is a tribute to eight people, including a child, who were killed by soldiers in Greenock in 1820 when a crowd trying to free anti-government protestors was fired upon.  
Sheriff Iain Fleming said: “Vandalising a war memorial is very serious.” He sentenced Whittaker to 180 days in jail.