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Tom Tugendhat's campaign posters targeted by vandals

It's Tom Tugendhat MBE - but as you've never seen him before.

Mischievous vandals have been adding their own flourishes to the prospective parliamentary candidate's campaign posters in Leybourne - each night covering the Tory's face with that of a well-known figure.

So far the hoarding, adjacent to Leybourne Church in Rectory Lane North, has been taken over by football pundit Chris Kamara, actor Brian Blessed and Mrs Brown from the BBC comedy Mrs Brown's Boys.

The poster was also defaced with an image of a minion
The poster was also defaced with an image of a minion
The poster has also had the Brian Blessed treatment
The poster has also had the Brian Blessed treatment

The candidate has even been replaced by a minion from film Despicable Me.

Mr Tugendhat, who is currently standing for re-election in the Tonbridge and Malling constituency, said: "I'm looking forward to seeing what I might be tomorrow!"

Tom Tugendhat, prospective parliamentary candidate for Tonbridge and Malling
Tom Tugendhat, prospective parliamentary candidate for Tonbridge and Malling

It is not clear who is behind the tongue-in-cheek stunt - but it might not be a laughing matter.

In the past defacing campaign posters has been treated as a criminal offence, with punishment by a fine and fixed penalty notice.

In 2005, Mike Jakub, the husband of the former Labour MP for Crosby, had to pay £80 after being caught vandalising Conservative posters.

Mr Tugendhat's face was replaced with Chris Kamara's
Mr Tugendhat's face was replaced with Chris Kamara's
Mrs Brown appeared on one of the signs
Mrs Brown appeared on one of the signs

It's not the first time posters have been targeted during this year's election campaign. Just last week Tory parliamentary candidate for Sittingbourne and the Isle of Sheppey, Gordon Henderon hit out at the “scum” who scrawled obscenities across his hoardings.

Other candidates who have declared as standing in the Tonbridge and Malling constituency are April Clark (Green), Dylan Jones (Lab), Keith Miller (Lib Dem) and Colin Bullen (Ukip).

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