A STUDENT who pleaded guilty to outraging public decency after he was photographed urinating over a war memorial avoided a jail sentence today.

A STUDENT who pleaded guilty to outraging public decency after he was photographed urinating over a war memorial avoided a jail sentence today.

Philip Laing, a student at Sheffield Hallam University, had been warned he could face a custodial sentence after the picture showed him soaking a poppy wreath following a drinking session in Sheffield city centre.

The 19-year-old, from Macclesfield, Cheshire, admitted the offence when he appeared earlier this month at Sheffield Magistrates' Court.

Today District Judge Anthony Browne ordered Laing to do 250 hours community service, adding that he had considered jailing him but had never seen anyone before him who was more contrite.

But the judge told the court that “something does need to be done” about the drinking culture that led to his behaviour.

- What do you think? Should Laing have been jailed or has the judge got it right? Let us know by posting a comment below.