Peter James criticises damage to Shaun the Sheep Brighton artwork

The Shaun by the Sea event has been raising money for the Martlets Hospice with dozens of colourful versions of the beloved character popping up across Brighton and Hove in an art trail.

Peter's sponsored statue is among those which have been vandalised. Now he has called for vandals to think twice about targeting the artworks.

Peter, whose WPC Gracie statue has been vandalised twice, said: “The Martlets Hospice is there to benefit everyone in our community at their time of deepest need and distress.

Damage to WPC Gracie on Hove seafront (Image: The Argus)

I don't know what the vandals who desecrate the Shaun the Sheep around the city think they are achieving other than to hurt the hospice's attempts at raising badly needed funds.

"It could be themselves or a loved one who is in dire need of the hospice's extraordinary care one day."

Peter spoke out about the vandalism after he visited some of the statues as part of his book tour promoting his latest Roy Grace novel Stop Them Dead.

The Brighton-born writer sponsored WPC Gracie, which was based on a Sussex Police officer and had been placed on the seafront at the beginning of the art trail earlier this month.

It was damaged twice in the space of a week with one person scrawling the anti-police acronym “ACAB” on its face.

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Sculptures near the Clocktower in Brighton city centre and the Pepper Pot in Queen’s Park were also attacked.

WPC Gracie has since been moved inside the Martlets charity shop in London Road to protect it from further damage.

Inspector Ward, of the Sussex Police neighbourhood policing team, said: “We do not tolerate any form of vandalism and targeting the charitable statues is no exception.

Peter James (Image: Peter James)

“Sadly, as a direct result of the incidents, the WPC Gracie statue has had to be removed from location.

“We will be investigating all reports of vandalism and so urge anyone who has information around those responsible for causing the damage to come forward.”