A MAN who took the sword from a statue of Roman emperor Constantine the Great and wielded it in the street may spend three years paying for the damage.

John Flanagan, 31, who lives at York’s Arc Light homeless shelter, faces having £5 a week deducted from his benefits to meet the repair bill of £783, which was paid by York Civic Trust.

York magistrates, who imposed the compensation order and also gave Flanagan a two-year conditional discharge, were told he kicked it from the statue, which is outside York Minster.

His solicitor, Keith Allen, said Flanagan admitted it was a "foolish and stupid" thing to do, and he was deeply ashamed he would be associated with such actions.

He said Flanagan had climbed up on the statue and the sword became dislodged when he pushed or kicked at it, and then he had swung it around briefly.

Mr Allen said Flanagan was subject to a community treatment order and had received treatment for drug-induced psychosis.

Martin Butterworth, prosecuting, said the statue incident had been captured on CCTV camera, and footage was shown to the magistrates in which Flanagan could be seen on the statue, and in the vicinity with the sword in his hand.

He said York Civic Trust, a registered charity which commissioned the statue in 1998, had described Flanagan's actions as "mindless vandalism".

Flanagan pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the statue and also possession of the drugs cannabis and mephedrone.

The statue was commissioned by the the Civic Trust in 1998 and stands outside the Minster’s south entrance.