£3,000 bill for Shrewsbury Mini wrecking spree

The father of a 17-year-old boy has been ordered to pay more than £3,000 in compensation after the teenager admitting causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to cars on a garage forecourt in Shrewsbury during a 60-second wrecking spree.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted causing criminal damage to seven Minis belonging to Rybrook Mini on Featherbed Lane, at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court yesterday.

He was given a four-month referral order and his father was ordered to pay £3,233.78 in compensation to the garage. The incident happened between 11.50pm and 12.10am on February 15 and 16. The boy was caught on CCTV running over the bonnets of seven cars at the garage, scratching and denting them. The court heard the boy and his friends had been drinking.

Mr Andrew Burke, prosecuting, said: "He jumped on one of the Minis and ran across the bonnets, kicking one windscreen which smashed." Mr Mark Thompson, for the boy, said: "He is very sorry and very ashamed of what he did and was quite shocked at what had happened.

"When he was told from the friends he was with what had happened he didn't believe it. He has come to court today to plead guilty and has shown responsibility and remorse."