July 27, 2021 10.33 am This story is over 32 months old

Beheaded Lincoln imp to be replaced this week

It’s only a temporary fix, though… the original will be back
This imp will be the temporary replacement for the vandalised sculpture until it is fixed. | Photo: Lincoln BIG
By Local Democracy Reporter

A replacement imp has been selected as a temporary placeholder for the Community Imp that was smashed in half by a vandal, and it should be put up in Lincoln city centre this week.

The city was sent into shock last week when one of the 30 imps from this year’s Lincoln Imp Trail, The Community Imp designed by Sian Bristow and a local schoolgirl in tribute to the NHS, was destroyed by a 20-year-old man.

Bradley Pennell, of Ogilvy Drive in Bottesford, Scunthorpe was charged with criminal damage after the imp was cut in half in the early hours of Wednesday, July 21.

The imp was cut in half and has now been moved from its spot by organisers of the trail, Lincoln BIG.

He has been released on bail and is due to appear at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on August 5.

There have been calls from the public for him to pay for all the damages if found guilty.

There were genuine concerns that the imp, which is valued at around £20,000, might not be able to be repaired, but the good news is that a fix job will happen.

The imp has been destroyed.

In the meantime, organisers Lincoln Business Improvement Group were looking for a placeholder to put at the spot of the Community Imp on Guildhall Street.

After a Twitter poll to allow the public to decide which they’d prefer, a bright red imp was selected and will go in place of the Community Imp on Friday, July 30 or Monday, August 2, on a temporary basis.

The red sculpture will be in place until the Community Imp is ready. | Photo: Lincoln BIG

The prototype was designed by an artist called Denise McCoid from Hull, depicting a shiny red colour on the traditional design for all the sculptures on the trail.

It is unclear when the damaged imp will be repaired and back where it belongs, but it should be okay in time for the auction on Lincolnshire Day, October 1, where the imps are sold to raise money for St Barnabas Hospice.