BT condemned for painting over artwork of stabbed boy

Bosses at BT were under fire today for painting over a mural of murdered teenager Ben Kinsella.

Council chiefs in Islington had issued a directive not to touch the art work on a junction box in North Road in Holloway, near where the 16-year-old was fatally stabbed last June.

Three days before what would have been his 18th birthday, BT told contractors to paint over the image of the brother of former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella after a member of the public complained to an engineer about the "graffiti". Ben's father George Kinsella said: "We're very upset. It seems to be a breakdown in communications. Unfortunately we don't know who did the painting. We would like to track them down. It was a fitting tribute to our son."

Tributes have begun appearing on the BT box. Council leader Terry Stacy, who had ordered the art to be left alone, said: "Does BT live in a bubble? Ben's death was national news."