Becks no match for irate lecturer

As a law lecturer well versed in the distinctions between criminal damage and public protest, James Anstice knew exactly what would happen to him if he carried out his mission to take his "war against crap" to Madame Tussauds.

Even as he entered the room containing a nativity scene depicting David and Victoria Beckham as Joseph and Mary with George W. Bush looking on as one of the Three Wise Men, Anstice admitted yesterday he knew that there was no justification for vandalism.

But such was his disgust at the celebrity-strewn tableau at the famous London waxworks museum, the God-fearing academic conducting a "war against crap" could no longer reconcile his intellect with his faith.

Within 30 seconds of stepping over the rope protecting the display, Anstice had pushed the figure of Beckham to the ground and ripped off the head of his wife's mannequin before dropping it on the floor, where it smashed to pieces.

Yesterday, as he appeared at Bow Street Magistrates Court in central London the lecturer accepted that his religious convictions had led to a criminal one as he admitted a single charge of causing criminal damage costing £2500 ($6588).

He was given a 12-month conditional discharge.

The Northamptonshire lecturer insisted that his actions had neither been those of a "militant Christian" nor a personal vendetta against the Real Madrid "galactico" and his pop star wife whom many in Britain already love to loathe.

Speaking outside the court, Anstice said: "I have nothing against David and Victoria Beckham - I have no opinion of them really. I am certainly not a nutter who's going to start stalking them.

"It was the combining of celebrity with religion that I found so offensive - Jesus was born in poverty and it was an absolutely absurd representation.

"I have done my bit in the war against crap but I do not think I am going to get involved in any more protests."

The attack on December 12 took place after furious public debate about the suitability of the tableau, which showed the Beckhams standing by a crib as Kylie Minogue hovered above them as an angel.

The figure of Bush as one of the Magi was accompanied by Tony Blair and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The tableau caused outrage among religious leaders and commentators.

On the Sunday of the attack he travelled by train from his village home in West Haddon, near Coventry, before queuing to pay his £21.99 entry to the museum.

The court heard he then waited for a group of children to pass the exhibit before climbing over the barrier, attacking it and fleeing the scene via a flight of back stairs.

Despite his years steeped in the intricacies of criminal law and jurisprudence, the lecturer showed little knowledge of how to escape a crime without punishment.

He was caught on CCTV inside the museum and police traced him using the credit card he used to pay for his ticket.

- INDEPENDENT