'You did £110,000 damage – now face the consequences'
THREE boys have been warned they could face custody after admitting their part in a wrecking rampage through a college building, leaving £110,000 damage.
Youths returned on three consecutive days to smash up the Lynn-based College of West Anglia study and residential facility for students with learning difficulties Plaxtole House, it emerged at a hearing at Lynn Youth Court on Tuesday.
Fire extinguishers were hurled through windows, computers destroyed and toilets and sinks smashed, leading to flooding over two floors, in the spree of “wanton vandalism”, described by prosecutor Mr Kevin Eastwick.
Two of the boys, aged 12 and 15, had a background of offending and are both in care.
The other youth, aged 17, had a lesser part in events and went along only on one day after hearing there was money to be found inside from pals, the court heard.
His solicitor Mr Neil Meachem said the boy was only before the court because he had handed himself into police after owning up to his dad.
Mr Meacham described the boy’s role in the damage as “fairly nominal” in the scheme of things, saying he damaged two to three windows and four to five plates and had no criminal record.
Prosecutor Mr Eastwick said Play Station games taken from residents’ rooms had turned up in homes and shops and small amounts of cash, including 20 in loose change, were stolen.
On the last evening neighbours, who were aware of what had already gone on, heard smashing glass and were able to get round to the building in time to see people inside, Mr Eastwick said.
Mr Rhys Mardon, representing the 12-year-old, said his client had been in care since he was seven years old.
He said he had started getting in trouble in the last year since beginning hanging around with older boys, but was now making younger friends.
The 15-year-old admitted two counts of burglary with intent to steal on July 25 and 26 and criminal damage on July 25, 26 and 27.
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The 12-year-old admitted three counts of burglary with intent to steal and two of criminal damage.
The 17-year-old admitted one count each of burglary with intent to steal and criminal damage.
Magistrates released the boys on conditional bail to allow reports to be prepared before sentencing, but warned they could all face custody. Each must have no contact with the other defendants, stick to a 7pm to 7am curfew and return to court on Tuesday, October 9.
A further boy, aged 15, also faces charges. His case was adjourned to Tuesday, September 25.
None of the boys can be named for legal reasons.
At the time of the damage outgoing college principal Mr Peter Stewart described the what had happened as an “orgy of destruction.”
l Two of the three boys who admitted playing a part in vandalising Plaxtole House faced further separate charges – including hurling a road sign onto rail tracks in one boy’s case and smashing up a school for the other.
The offences also included a joint charge of attacking hanging baskets and plants belonging to West Norfolk Council after the Plaxtole House attacks.
smashing
The 12-year-old boy left 4,653 damage after smashing windows at Fakenham High School, prosecutor Kevin Eastwick said.
The boy admitted criminal damage at the school between May 4 and 8.
In a separate incident, the 15-year-old admitted putting an object on a railway line which was likely to endanger the lives of rail passengers on September 3.
Mr Eastwick said the boy was spotted dropping a plastic road works sign from Hardwick Bridge on to the railway below. Luckily no-one was hurt in the incident, he added.
The teenager also admitted shoplifting at Lynn Tesco on the same day and the pair jointly admitted criminal damage to plants belonging to the council on August 29.
An 18-year-old, from Lynn, jointly accused of endangering lives of railway passengers, had earlier denied the charge against him at Lynn Magistrates’ Court. His case was adjourned to Thursday, November 8.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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