Evil’ Child Vandals Attack Dream Home
A couple’s £1.2 million Grade-II listed home on the Isle of Wight became the scene of a horrific act of vandalism when ‘evil’ child vandals went on a month-long rampage.
The vandals, aged between 11 and 15, left the property resembling ‘a war zone.’ Chainsaws, hammers, and axes were among the destructive tools they employed in a spree of destruction that targeted the six-bedroom home.
Dream Home Turned Nightmare
Joanna Pittard and her husband, Matt, had envisioned making this property their family home, planning to live there with their two daughters.
However, their dream turned into a nightmare when the ‘disgraceful gang,’ which included two girls, descended upon their property, leaving it ‘absolutely trashed.’ The vandals hardly spared anything, causing extensive damage.
Severe Damage and Financial Impact
The vandalism wrought havoc on the property, reducing its value by as much as £300,000, despite the family’s investment of tens of thousands in repairs.
The property was left ‘practically uninhabitable’ as the gang engaged in their destructive spree between May and June the previous year.
Seven perpetrators, who are now aged between 13 and 16, admitted to criminal damage at the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court and were each fined £1,500.
Extent of Destruction
The court heard of the extensive damage that left the property in shambles. Windows, including ornate stained glass, antique furniture, and even the homeowner’s wedding dress, were not spared.
The damage extended to wrought-iron chandeliers, antique furniture, and a variety of household items.
Financial and Emotional Toll
The couple faced significant expenses in restoring the property, with repairs amounting to £35,000, but the work is far from finished.
The estate agent reported a substantial reduction in the property’s market value, and antique items that the couple had hoped to restore were beyond repair.
Mrs. Pittard described the damage as ‘heartbreaking,’ and the family was left emotionally devastated.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
In interviews with the police, the youths admitted varying degrees of involvement in the damage, and the court treated the offense as ‘joint enterprise,’ holding them all equally responsible.
The magistrates handed down a 12-month referral order to the teenagers and ordered them to pay £1,500 in compensation for the ‘very personal impact on the family involved.’
The court emphasized their ‘regret and remorse’ but also expressed concern about their ‘disgraceful’ behavior. The teens were urged to avoid a return to court.
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