Car vandals smirk as court told of their spree

TWO drunken yobs who caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage to parked cars after a booze binge, smirked in the dock as they were being sentenced.

Jamie Turner (18), of Spring Street, Greenacres, and a 17 year old - who cannot be named for legal reasons - exchanged grins after details of their escapade had been outlined in court.

Judge Timothy Mort told them he was sorry they appeared to find the proceedings amusing, but gave them the benefit of the doubt and accepted it was perhaps down to “nervous tension.”

The pair, along with a third man who has already been dealt with by the courts, were seen by two witnesses trashing vehicles parked in Marion Street and Holden Street, Oldham, shortly after 2am on August 12. Damage to one of the cars was estimated at £600, and another at £250.

Graham Robinson, prosecuting, said that both teenagers had had a considerable amount to drink and had been quickly arrested after causing the damage.

Alison Heyworth, defending, said Turner had a difficult early life after a tragedy fragmented his family, which led to his getting into trouble.

Judge Mort told the pair, who each pleaded guilty to two offences of causing criminal damage: “These vehicles were not particularly valuable in cash terms, but they were valuable to their owners.

Turner was ordered to carry out 80 hours unpaid community work and pay £200 compensation to each of the victims. The 17 year old was made subject of a 12-month youth rehabilitation order.

Wayne Tullen (22), the third person involved in the incident, was sentenced to six months in prison at an earlier hearing.