Vandal beheads marble Mrs Thatcher

A marble statue of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has been beheaded in an attack by a vandal.

The £50,000 sculpture of the Iron Lady, on display at the Guildhall art gallery, had its head knocked off by a man who was seen staring at the 8ft model before suddenly grabbing a metal pole from a rope fence that had been protecting it.

He aimed the pole at the neck of the statue, taking the white marble head of Baroness Thatcher clean off. The head fell onto the floor but stayed in one piece except for a chip taken from the lip.

The man then ran off but was caught by security guards at the gallery and was arrested by City of London police.

He was later named as Paul Kelleher, 37, from Isleworth, who has been charged with criminal damage and was due to appear before City of London Magistrates today.

Neighbours of Mr Kelleher, who is believed to live with a partner and baby son, were surprised to hear what had happened, but described him as "unconventional."

One neighbour said: "I don't think he works, he seems to stay at home and look after the little boy. I don't know him well but he does seem what you would call unconventional. I haven't a clue what his political beliefs are."

The attack on the statue, which was designed by sculptor Neil Simmons, has been described by the Lord Mayor of London as "wanton vandalism that is utterly deplorable." Alderman Michael Oliver said: "I find such behaviour deeply saddening. Whatever one's views on Baroness Thatcher's politics, she is a unique and important part of recent history of our country."

MP Tony Banks, who is chairman of the advisory committee on works of art in the House of Commons, said: "Although the statue of Baroness Thatcher ranks among our most controversial commissions, acts of vandalism against works of art can never be tolerated in a civilised society."

The statue had been on display at the gallery since it was unveiled by Baroness Thatcher in May and was to go on show at a later date in the Members' Lobby at the House of Commons.

The project to design the statue, which its subject described as "a marvellous likeness", took more than five years to complete and was only finished after an anonymous donation of £50,000.