A MAN charged with damaging a giraffe from the Worcester Stands Tall project failed to appear at court.

Oleksiy Koval is alleged to have damaged the giraffe called Hive Mind, which is in Sawmill Walk, overnight on Wednesday, July 11, after England lost their World Cup semi final match against Croatia.

Following the incident, the statue was placed in a pen for public safety reasons and to avoid further damage.

The 37-year-old was charged with criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 but failed to turn up for the court hearing, scheduled to take place at Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday morning.

It later emerged court staff were told that Mr Koval was in hospital, with the case adjourned.

The sculpture was removed from the trail for repair work on Sunday, July 15 and returned on Tuesday, July 17.

In total, 57 giraffe sculptures were placed around the city raising funds for the St Richard’s Hospice’s Build 2020 appeal to expand its premises.