ONE of York’s most famous statues – of Roman emperor Constantine – has been vandalised by a man who stole his sword.
North Yorkshire Police are investigating the recent incident involving the popular statue which stands outside York Minster.
Around 11pm on Wednesday, officers were called to a report of a man brandishing a sword which had been taken from the statue of Constantine.
A man was detained nearby and arrested on suspicion of causing damage to the statue. He remains in police custody.
The missing sword was recovered by a member of the public and was passed to police officers.
Constantine the Great was announced emperor in Roman York, or Eboracum as it was then known, by the army on the announcement of his father’s death in 306AD.
The statue was commissioned by the York Civic Trust in 1998 and stands outside the Minster's South Entrance.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is urged to contact PC1597 Pete McFarlane of the York Investigation Hub on 101, quoting incident number 12160177029.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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