Teens caused £22,000 of damage

TWO teenage boys have been sent to a youth detention centre after causing more than £20,000 of damage at a Newcastle community centre.

Police were called to Blakelaw Neighbourhood Centre on April 12 after reports youths had climbed onto the roof of the building. They arrested two 17-year-olds.

But just three days later, police were called again after youths climbed on to the roof of a building near to Blakelaw Shopping Centre.

The two youngsters tore tiles from the roof, smashed windows and threw debris at passers-by.

A 16-year-old, and one of the 17-year-olds from the earlier incident, eventually came down from the roof and were arrested.

It is estimated that damage caused in both incidents amounted to around £22,000.

All three teenage boys – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – were charged with a string of offences including theft, affray and criminal damage.

Two of them were sentenced this week after a judge said he was disgusted by the damage they had caused to the estate.

Neighbourhood inspector Julie Rana, of Northumbria Police, said: “These three teenagers have shown a total lack of respect for the community.”

The 17-year-old involved in both incidents was handed a 16-month sentence to be served in a youth detention facility. He admitted offences including an affray, theft, a racially aggravated public order offence and possession of a bladed article.

The 16-year-old will also serve with a 16-month sentence after admitting assaulting a police officer, theft and an affray. He denied a further offence of possession of a bladed article and will appear before the youth court in the near future.

The 17-year-old involved in the first incident, but not the second, admitted theft, affray and a racially aggravated public order offence. However, he denied an unrelated offence and will appear before youth court in the near future for this case to be heard.