Fury at sick advert in Birmingham student newspaper

Feb 12 2009 by Paul Bradley, Birmingham Mail

A BIRMINGHAM student newspaper is advertising limited edition crockery to commemorate Britain’s most violent child killers.

The Sanctuary newspaper, which bears the crest of the University of Birmingham on its front page, dedicated a full page to an advert offering designer china emblazoned with images of Ian Huntley, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, and Fred and Rose West.

The sick spoof ad says that the fine plates and cups should be bought to celebrate “the plucky, mischievous Brits who did gratuitous violence best”.

It also includes a bad taste poem that says: “Just as these notorious killers committed crimes you’ll never forget, this set represents a once-in-a-lifetime investment you’ll never regret”.

But today, campaigners for the families of victims branded the offer as “sick and disrespectful”.

And the University of Birmingham has ordered the students to stop using its logo and distributing it on campus.

But The Sanctuary editor Christopher Philip Bacon refused to apologise for the mock advert which he said was lampooning those selling “sentimental tat.”

A spokeswoman for the Support After Murder and Manslaughter help group, said: “It is beyond belief that anybody can think it is acceptable to print something like this.

“It is incredibly offensive to bereaved families and glorifies violence and killing.

“Thousands of families will be appalled and I’m sure the police would be interested to know that this is going on.

“The people who put this advert out probably intend it as a joke, but it is just sick.

“I will certainly be complaining to the university.

“They must take responsibility for what is published under their name.”

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