That’s out of line!
Teenage yobs who destroyed thousands of pounds of model railways walk free from court – with a £500 slap on the wrist
THREE teenagers who destroyed a cherished £30,000 model railway exhibition were ordered to pay only £500 each yesterday – and the bill will be met by their parents.
The yobs, all now 16, went on a drunken rampage after breaking into a school sports hall in Stamford, Lincolnshire.
They destroyed decades of work by members of a model railway society, smashing up locomotives and tracks due to go on public display.
Images of the destruction sparked national outrage, with wellwishers – including Scots rocker Sir Rod Stewart – donating more than £100,000 to help restore the collection.
Yet despite demolishing the ‘life’s work’ of modelling enthusiasts, the teenagers walked free from Lincoln Youth Court. The trio admitted criminal damage and were ordered to undertake a 12-month referral order.
They were also told to each pay £500 compensation to Market Deeping Model Railway Club (MDMRC) plus £85 prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge. Magistrates were told the financial penalties will be met by their parents as none of the teenagers has any income.
A fourth 16-year-old admitted criminal damage and will be sentenced next month. He was not accompanied at court by a parent or guardian.
The court was told the four teenagers broke into Stamford Welland Academy sports hall in the historic Lincolnshire town in May. They claimed they were locked out and wanted to play football after drinking vodka to celebrate the end of lessons before their exams.
Magistrates heard they caused £30,000 of damage by smashing handbuilt locomotives and tracks. One exhibit had taken 36 years to complete and the destruction left their creators in tears. Another of the displays was made by a nine-year-old boy.
Prosecutor Shelley Wilson said the teenagers kicked the hall fire doors open in the early hours.
They then smashed the displays set out for MDMRC’s annual exhibition, which was due to open a few hours later. Exhibitors who arrived at 7.30am to put the finishing touches to their displays were reduced to tears at seeing years of hard work destroyed.
The annual event – which had been expected to attract 400 visitors – was cancelled for the first time in more than 30 years.
John Kneesworth, of the St Neots Model Railway Club, which had a display at the event, said one of the group’s displays took ten years to build and his own collection of locomotives and wagons was smashed.
‘I spent 20 to 25 years building up my collection. It was all made by me, and unique. I’m truly shocked at what happened. I cannot understand why anyone would do this. It is devastating.’
Linford Fuller, representing one of the four, said: ‘The parties were in drink. Had they been sober, different choices would have been made.’
Magistrate John Lock said the compensation was a gesture and told the defendants ‘the hurt can never be compensated for’. He added: ‘In more than 20 years on the bench I cannot recall a case of such mindless destruction.’
‘Shocked at what happened’