Girl, 14, and boy, 13, cause £150k damage to school
A 14-year-old girl who was "bored" joined in with her friend's "daft" plan to cause £150,000 of damage to a school, a court has heard.
The girl and a 13-year-old boy, from St Helens, Merseyside, both admitted burglary and criminal damage following the vandalism spree at Rainford High Technology College in Higher Lane, Rainford.
The duo, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were each given 12-month referral orders at Liverpool Youth Court.
Both were identified following videos they posted on social media, the court heard.
'Taps left running'
Michael O’Kane, prosecuting, said earlier on the afternoon of Saturday 25 November last year the caretaker at Rainford High became aware something was afoot.
The police were called but by the time officers arrived the two young defendants had left. Their social media led to their identification.
The pair let fire extinguishers off, threw furniture across classrooms, smashed a photocopier beyond repair, broke toilets and left taps running, causing flooding, the court was told.
Multiple classrooms were damaged and the school submitted an insurance claim in excess of £150,000, said Mr O’Kane.
They also had to pay a £500 insurance excess, he added.
'Pretty pathetic'
District Judge James Hatton said that because of the defendants' ages he was "stuck with the sentence" he could impose.
“This is not to diminish how serious this is,” he said, adding that the 13-year-old boy had “no reason at all” and the girl’s was “pretty pathetic".
He said: “It is staggering that your reaction to boredom is to go and do something as appalling as this.
"You are depriving people of the right to go into their school and enjoy the benefits of education because of the damage you caused.
“All because you were bored and you had a daft idea,” said Judge Hatton.
The duo both admitted burglary and criminal damage.
The girl also admitted causing £180 of damage to a Ford Focus on 12 April by smashing the rear window with a padlock.
Pocket money
The judge ordered both to pay £250 compensation to the school, both of which will be taken from their fathers’ unemployment benefits.
“Legally it is your parents’ debt, morally it is yours,” he told the defendants and suggested it should be taken from their pocket money or restriction of gifts.
“Don’t go moaning to them about it," he said. "You have placed a significant financial obligation on your parents.”
The judge concluded by warning them that if they breached the referral order the pair could "expect the consequences to be pretty severe.”
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