One of three boys who caused thousands of pounds-worth of damage at Penrith Cricket Club has admitted his role in the vandalism.
Club officials found the destruction when they arrived at their Tynefield Park site on July 5 last year. This had been committed by three youngsters at around 2am.
“They damaged boundary rope, possibly by cutting it,” prosecutor George Shelley told Carlisle Youth Court this morning, “a white screen by kicking it; three glass tables and chairs by throwing large stones.”
Parts of a stone perimeter wall were removed to hurl at the furniture, wooden railings were damaged as was a water pipe.
“I’m absolutely devastated,” cricket club bar manager Michelle Dodd had said in July after spending many hours cleaning up the damage. “Firstly for the people of Penrith. We try to encourage the youngsters to come and embrace cricket, get involved and to get them off the streets.“
CCTV was analysed after the wrecking spree and police arrested three youngsters aged 12 and 13. One, now aged 14, admitted a criminal damage charge when he appeared in front of a district judge.
He was identified on camera footage and made full admissions to police, saying he was bored, had not been thinking properly and was reckless.
The boy spoke in court of sneaking out of his family home that night. “He doesn’t accept that he caused all of the damage,” said defence solicitor Andrew Gurney, who spoke of a “lack of maturity” for “spur-of-the-moment” offending. “It is something he is truly sorry for.”
The boy’s mum told the court that the family had already suffered lots of consequences with a BB gun fired at a window days after the incident.
“Understandably people are very upset,” she said, adding of her son: “He has already paid quite a high price.”
Around £3,000-worth of damage was caused although thousands of pounds was raised through an online fundraiser. Volunteers had also stepped in to carry out repairs.
District Judge John Temperley imposed a three-month referral order, meaning the boy must agree to work with a youth offending team during that period; and ruled that £500 compensation should be paid on his behalf to the club.
“Though boredom, as you say, a lot of property has been damaged. That cost a lot of money,” Mr Temperley told the boy.
- The two other boys have been the subject of out-of-court disposals. “The youth offending service recommended (the 14-year-old) be charged due to previous behaviour,” Mr Shelley said. Last June that teen was made the subject of a conditional caution for eight other offences, including two of criminal damage.
