Teen admits to driving charges
‘I’m pleased that justice has been served’
A Scarborough teenager has been identified and sentenced as the culprit behind damage caused to Woodlands cemetery.
The culprit behind damage caused to Woodlands cemetery earlier this year has been identified and sentenced. A Scarborough teenager admitted at the town’s youth court to three charges associated with damage he caused to gravestones and grassed areas.
On Sunday, 4 February, the 17-year-old male, who cannot be named for legal reasons, went for a reckless drive through the cemetery, leaving deep tyre tracks on the grass and knocking some gravestones out of place.
Residents were left shocked by the incident, with many describing the act as “disgraceful”, “disgusting” and “disrespectful”.
Speaking at the time, Coun Bill Chatt, Scarborough Borough Council Cabinet Member for Public Health and Housing, said: “People don’t expect this to happen in a graveyard. The people who have spoken to me have had a really strong view on the people in the car. It’s just appalling.”
Cllr Chatt also assured that the matter would be taken seriously.
After taking responsibility for his actions, the teenager was convicted of driving without undue care and attention, driving without a licence and driving without third party insurance.
He received referral orders to the North Yorkshire Youth Offenders team for each of the three offences.
He is disqualified from applying for or holding a driver’s licence for 12 months and when he is able to apply for a licence in the future, it will be endorsed accordingly.
The 17-year-old was also ordered to pay £200 in compensation to Scarborough Borough Council and £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Cllr Chatt said: “I am pleased to hear that justice has been served and that the teenager had the decency to plead guilty to what he did.
“His reckless actions caused a lot of distress to the owners of the gravestones he damaged and I seriously hope the court process and punishments handed down will be a steep learning curve for him.
“On behalf of our Bereavement Services team, I would like to thank North Yorkshire Police and the CPS for their efforts in securing a conviction.”