Queen's guard spitting feathers
By DUNCAN LARCOMBE
Royal Correspondent,
GUY PATRICK
and ANTHONY FRANCE
May 25, 2007
The Sun
Fowl ... Briercliffe at Windsor Castle
ONE of the Queen’s elite guards has sparked outrage for biting the head off a live chicken.
Gruesome footage on YouTube shows the soldier spit out the head, with the bird’s wings still flapping.
The clip caused outrage when it was posted on the popular website under the heading: “Who feels like chicken tonight?”
Within hours of it appearing, hundreds of angry viewers complained, prompting YouTube staff to call in the police.
Today The Sun can reveal the drunken yob in the film is Craig Briercliffe, 22, who serves with the Household Cavalry’s elite Scots Guards regiment.
Sick ... YouTube footage of Guardsman Briercliffe biting off head
Police have already fined Guardsman Briercliffe, from Lancashire, and he will now have to face his furious superiors.
A Scots Guards source said top brass are horrified, adding: “He is in serious trouble. As a member of the Household Division it’s his job to guard the Queen and we expect all our men to conduct themselves accordingly.
“This kind of shocking behaviour is simply not acceptable.
“Let’s just say Guardsman Briercliffe is not the only person spitting feathers.”
Police traced the video back to Briercliffe and on Monday he was given an £80 fixed penalty — for criminal damage.
A spokesman for Lancashire Police confirmed: “Following complaints, a 22-year-old man was arrested and given an £80 fixed penalty fine. He was very remorseful for what he had done. This was a drunken and sick joke. We will be speaking to the web administrators to ensure that such material is not posted again.”
However, Briercliffe is yet to find out whether it will cost him his job with one of the Army’s most prestigious regiments.
Yesterday he was back on duty at Windsor Castle. as his superiors consider what action to take.
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Inspector Dave Anforth said he was “appalled”.
thesun.co.uk
By DUNCAN LARCOMBE
Royal Correspondent,
GUY PATRICK
and ANTHONY FRANCE
May 25, 2007
The Sun
Fowl ... Briercliffe at Windsor Castle
ONE of the Queen’s elite guards has sparked outrage for biting the head off a live chicken.
Gruesome footage on YouTube shows the soldier spit out the head, with the bird’s wings still flapping.
The clip caused outrage when it was posted on the popular website under the heading: “Who feels like chicken tonight?”
Within hours of it appearing, hundreds of angry viewers complained, prompting YouTube staff to call in the police.
Today The Sun can reveal the drunken yob in the film is Craig Briercliffe, 22, who serves with the Household Cavalry’s elite Scots Guards regiment.
Sick ... YouTube footage of Guardsman Briercliffe biting off head
Police have already fined Guardsman Briercliffe, from Lancashire, and he will now have to face his furious superiors.
A Scots Guards source said top brass are horrified, adding: “He is in serious trouble. As a member of the Household Division it’s his job to guard the Queen and we expect all our men to conduct themselves accordingly.
“This kind of shocking behaviour is simply not acceptable.
“Let’s just say Guardsman Briercliffe is not the only person spitting feathers.”
Police traced the video back to Briercliffe and on Monday he was given an £80 fixed penalty — for criminal damage.
A spokesman for Lancashire Police confirmed: “Following complaints, a 22-year-old man was arrested and given an £80 fixed penalty fine. He was very remorseful for what he had done. This was a drunken and sick joke. We will be speaking to the web administrators to ensure that such material is not posted again.”
However, Briercliffe is yet to find out whether it will cost him his job with one of the Army’s most prestigious regiments.
Yesterday he was back on duty at Windsor Castle. as his superiors consider what action to take.
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Inspector Dave Anforth said he was “appalled”.
thesun.co.uk
