A man has been jailed for four months after he drunkenly vandalised a memorial for murdered soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich.

A memorial tree which sits metres away from where the 25-year-old was murdered by extremists was defaced on Sunday, July 28. 

Said Aitabbou, 58, was seen ripping up flowers, smashing plant pots and throwing poppy wreaths laid at the tree. 

Police were called to the scene and Aitabbou was arrested at around 1pm. 

Aitabbou, of Erwood Road in Charlton, later pleaded guilty to criminal damage.

On Thursday (September 12) he appeared at Bexley Magistrates’ Court for sentencing. 

Deputy District Judge Balmain sentenced Aitabbou to four months in prison. 

The judge explained that prison time was necessary because Aitabbou was drunk, not on his medication and this was a memorial. 

Local Connor Tuxford, 31, spotted Aitabbou being escorted into a waiting police van before cleaning up the site himself.  

 The warehouse operative said: "I went to pull out my phone as he was sitting on the floor with his legs crossed.  

"He was clearly waiting for someone to notice him, for the attention.  

 "I was just walking back from work and I saw this guy ripping up all the flowers and smashing some jars.  

 "I went and cleaned up the memorial afterwards because no one else did.  

 "I didn't think much or anything of it but they started clapping me as I was doing it." 

Fusilier Lee Rigby had served in AfghanistanFusilier Lee Rigby had served in Afghanistan (Image: PA) Lee was murdered in an unprovoked attack outside the Woolwich Barracks in May 2013. 

Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale mowed him down in a car after they spotted him in a Help 4 Heroes hoodies then attacked him with knives and a meat cleaver. 

Adebolajo was given a whole-life term and Adebowale was jailed for a minimum of 45 years.