By Niamh O'doherty
A teenage lout who posted a picture of a burning poppy on Facebook has been punished by meeting Army veterans and serving soldiers — for a cup of tea.
Linford 'Linney' House, who was 19 when he posted the photo, was arrested after the disrespectful image was seen on the internet during the early hours of Remembrance Sunday.
The controversial photo showed a cigarette lighter with a flame burning the bottom of a British Legion paper poppy, with the words: 'How about that you squadey [sic] shits.'
House sparked public fury with the prank and was detained for more than a day under the Malicious Communications Act. Police also seized his phone.
But Kent Police today confirmed the Canterbury College student will not face prosecution.
Instead, House met an ex-naval marine, a sergeant major, members of the Royal British Legion and representatives from an army-affiliated charity at an undisclosed location on Wednesday.
The army veterans and serving personnel discussed the impact of House's actions and how they affected others as part of Kent Police's new 'restorative practice' programme.
The student, who is on a practical environmental studies building course, had to be moved out his home in Aylesham, Kent, after the offensive picture appeared on November 11.
Just hours after the picture was published an online campaign lead by the English Defence League outed the teenager as 'Linny "Power" House.'
EDL members attached his personal contact details including his phone number and address to the burning poppy image.
They captioned the photo: 'If anyone wonders why the English Defence League take to the streets and protest against those who disrespect our country's way of life and laws.'
It later emerged Mr House's grandfather Ronald was a merchant navy seaman who was awarded a workers' VC for diving into icy water to try to save a sailor near the coast of Newfoundland in 1954.
His father, Keith, who plays for Snowdon Colliery Rugby Club, described his son's actions as stupid and said he could not remember posting the picture on the internet after a night out.
Speaking at the restorative justice meeting, Mr House, now 20, said he was 'deeply sorry' for what he did.
He said: 'I think about it everyday and it's always in the back of my mind. I've lost friends over what happened but I didn't want to hide away I wanted to make things right as much as possible.
'The poppy is a symbol of peace and I shouldn't have done what I did. I'm sorry to everyone that it's offended.'
Nikki Scott, founder of Scotty's Little Soldiers, was at the meeting with the Mr House.
She lost her husband during a tour of duty. Corporal Lee Scott of The 2nd Royal Tank Regiment was killed in Afghanistan on 10 July 2009.
She said: 'My family and I learned the hard way about what a poppy means and stands for and when I saw the picture I was hurt, upset and disgusted.
'It was good to see Mr House talk to us and apologise and hopefully he will be able to go someway to making up for some of the offence he caused.'
The meeting was hosted by Police Sergeant Jim Watson and attendees included Garrison Sergeant Major John Garrity, investigating officer Detective Sergeant Neil Watford, Paula Kitching from the Royal British Legion and ex-serviceman Mark Horton.
A spokesman for Kent Police said: 'A man arrested after pictures of a burning poppy were posted online has met serving Armed Forces personnel, ex-servicemen and charity representatives as part of a process called Restorative Practice.
'Linford House, 20, was arrested on Sunday 11 November after posting an offensive comment alongside a picture of a burning poppy.
'Officers investigated after receiving numerous complaints about the posting on a social media website.
'Mr House agreed to meet representatives of those affected by his behaviour to apologise and discuss how his actions affected others.'
He added: 'Restorative practice brings those affected by crime and anti-social behaviour together with those responsible for it to ensure that offenders realise the effect of their actions, take responsibility and are given the opportunity to make amends.
'It gives victims and others affected the opportunity to understand why it has happened and have a say in how the harm can be repaired.
'Restorative practice has a proven track record of reducing re-offending. It can be used alongside the criminal justice system or, as in this case, an alternative thus keeping young people out of the criminal justice system.
Chief Constable Ian Learmonth said: 'This is an example where Kent Police has worked with other partners to bring about a positive resolution for all.
'Matters reported to us are taken very seriously but often the outcome is one where we want to influence a change in behaviour by those involved.
'Restorative practice allows us to do that effectively. The wishes and views of the victim are at the heart of the process.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-veterans-serving-soldiers.html#ixzz2FcKYyAN2
A teenage lout who posted a picture of a burning poppy on Facebook has been punished by meeting Army veterans and serving soldiers — for a cup of tea.
Linford 'Linney' House, who was 19 when he posted the photo, was arrested after the disrespectful image was seen on the internet during the early hours of Remembrance Sunday.
The controversial photo showed a cigarette lighter with a flame burning the bottom of a British Legion paper poppy, with the words: 'How about that you squadey [sic] shits.'
House sparked public fury with the prank and was detained for more than a day under the Malicious Communications Act. Police also seized his phone.
But Kent Police today confirmed the Canterbury College student will not face prosecution.
Instead, House met an ex-naval marine, a sergeant major, members of the Royal British Legion and representatives from an army-affiliated charity at an undisclosed location on Wednesday.
The army veterans and serving personnel discussed the impact of House's actions and how they affected others as part of Kent Police's new 'restorative practice' programme.
The student, who is on a practical environmental studies building course, had to be moved out his home in Aylesham, Kent, after the offensive picture appeared on November 11.
Just hours after the picture was published an online campaign lead by the English Defence League outed the teenager as 'Linny "Power" House.'
EDL members attached his personal contact details including his phone number and address to the burning poppy image.
They captioned the photo: 'If anyone wonders why the English Defence League take to the streets and protest against those who disrespect our country's way of life and laws.'
It later emerged Mr House's grandfather Ronald was a merchant navy seaman who was awarded a workers' VC for diving into icy water to try to save a sailor near the coast of Newfoundland in 1954.
His father, Keith, who plays for Snowdon Colliery Rugby Club, described his son's actions as stupid and said he could not remember posting the picture on the internet after a night out.
Speaking at the restorative justice meeting, Mr House, now 20, said he was 'deeply sorry' for what he did.
He said: 'I think about it everyday and it's always in the back of my mind. I've lost friends over what happened but I didn't want to hide away I wanted to make things right as much as possible.
'The poppy is a symbol of peace and I shouldn't have done what I did. I'm sorry to everyone that it's offended.'
Nikki Scott, founder of Scotty's Little Soldiers, was at the meeting with the Mr House.
She lost her husband during a tour of duty. Corporal Lee Scott of The 2nd Royal Tank Regiment was killed in Afghanistan on 10 July 2009.
She said: 'My family and I learned the hard way about what a poppy means and stands for and when I saw the picture I was hurt, upset and disgusted.
'It was good to see Mr House talk to us and apologise and hopefully he will be able to go someway to making up for some of the offence he caused.'
The meeting was hosted by Police Sergeant Jim Watson and attendees included Garrison Sergeant Major John Garrity, investigating officer Detective Sergeant Neil Watford, Paula Kitching from the Royal British Legion and ex-serviceman Mark Horton.
A spokesman for Kent Police said: 'A man arrested after pictures of a burning poppy were posted online has met serving Armed Forces personnel, ex-servicemen and charity representatives as part of a process called Restorative Practice.
'Linford House, 20, was arrested on Sunday 11 November after posting an offensive comment alongside a picture of a burning poppy.
'Officers investigated after receiving numerous complaints about the posting on a social media website.
'Mr House agreed to meet representatives of those affected by his behaviour to apologise and discuss how his actions affected others.'
He added: 'Restorative practice brings those affected by crime and anti-social behaviour together with those responsible for it to ensure that offenders realise the effect of their actions, take responsibility and are given the opportunity to make amends.
'It gives victims and others affected the opportunity to understand why it has happened and have a say in how the harm can be repaired.
'Restorative practice has a proven track record of reducing re-offending. It can be used alongside the criminal justice system or, as in this case, an alternative thus keeping young people out of the criminal justice system.
Chief Constable Ian Learmonth said: 'This is an example where Kent Police has worked with other partners to bring about a positive resolution for all.
'Matters reported to us are taken very seriously but often the outcome is one where we want to influence a change in behaviour by those involved.
'Restorative practice allows us to do that effectively. The wishes and views of the victim are at the heart of the process.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-veterans-serving-soldiers.html#ixzz2FcKYyAN2
