TEEN ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY TRASHING TREE IN RYDE

A teenager has been arrested after more than £700 worth of damage was caused to a Christmas Tree in Ryde in the early hours of Thursday morning. As previously reported by Island Echo, the tree in Minghella Square was defaced in the early hours of Thursday morning, with the lights ripped off and tree ornaments destroyed. Officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary arrested the vandal –  a 16-year-old boy – on suspicion of 2x counts of criminal damage, 1 of which took place on 12th December at the Hideaway Cottage Café in Shanklin earlier in the month. The youngster – from Rookley – was also arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest and assault of an emergency worker. He has been handed conditional bail until 21st March 2024. Enquiries continue.