Vandals of much-loved roadside giraffe in Crowlas 'fess up'

The head of the damaged giraffe sculpture Julian, placed beside the main road in Crowlas, Cornwall, was seriously damaged by members of a local sports club on a boozy Saturday night. Julian, a 2.4m (8ft) sculpture created by Valerie Boakes, was snapped from its neck and now needs rebuilding. The perpetrators confessed to the crime, agreeing to pay for repairs after speaking to Boakes, who expressed disappointment but understood the sculpture was replaceable. Julian has been a local landmark, visible to motorists on the busy A30 near Penzance, and has received significant social media support. Boakes initially felt anger but later accepted the damage as a loss of a replaceable creation. A local convenience shop owner, Phillip Green, noted the sculpture's importance to the village, adding it provides character and pride to Crowlas. The vandals admitted they were 'stupid' and will not face public humiliation for their actions.