How group of up to 30 marauding teenagers are terrorising second home owners on ... trends now
A group of up to 30 teenagers on the Isle of Wight are terrorising second home owners by letting off fireworks in town centres, smashing children's Halloween pumpkins and ransacking shops.
Members of the public in Newport town centre have been subjected to torments of verbal and physical abuse, with some even having food chucked at them, according to police as they warned the 'juvenile nuisances'.
The Isle of Wight Police said the chaos, which has seen school kids climb on roofs, force their way into properties and throw around stock from shops, was not just a 'holiday issue but sadly an ongoing daily occurrence' that officers are 'dealing with'.
The half term horror comes after a group of 'evil' child vandals were fined yesterday for ransacking a couple's £1.2 million Grade-II listed home using chainsaws, hammers and axes leaving the property looking 'like a war zone'.
The distraught owners told the court yesterday that the spree of destruction, that took place between May and June last year, saw their six-bedroom home in a town on the island torn apart by the children.
Antiques and ornate stained glass windows were smashed, while a a wrought-iron chandelier and a palm tree were brought down by the youths between the ages of 11 and 15.
Joanna Pittard, who said even her beloved wedding dress was destroyed, and her husband Matt had planned to make the property their family home to live in with their two daughters before it was 'absolutely trashed'.
The six-bedroom home in a town on the Isle of Wight, was targeted by the 'mindless' youths who smashed antiques, ornate stained-glass windows and chopped down a palm tree
The vandalism has caused the property value to decrease by up to £300,000, the court was told, despite the family splashing out tens of thousands on repairs
The Isle of Wight Police said a group of children had been causing havoc in the town of Newport on the Isle of Wight
Their dream to relocate to the property, however, was shattered when the 'disgraceful gang' - which included two girls - left 'hardly anything untouched.
Lights and bathroom taps were wreaked while the large home was smothered in ketchup, bleach and paint, with Isle of Wight Magistrates Court hearing the property had been left 'practically uninhabitable'.
The vandalism has caused the property value to decrease by up to £300,000, the court was told, despite the family splashing out tens of thousands on repairs.
Seven perpetrators, who are now all aged between 13 and 16 and cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted criminal damage to property at court where they were each fined £1,500.
Prosecutor Ann Smout told the court the offences took place at at the 'substantial' building in a town on the Isle Of Wight.
'Joanna and Matt Pittard were in that address over Easter in April 2022,' she said. 'They had a week there and left the property clean and tidy and in very, very good order.'
The couple had been away from the house for a over a month, the court heard, but were alerted by the gardener that there 'may be some damage' to the property.
Quickly returning back to the property the next day, the couple heard 'banging noises' as it became clear 'something was going on' as youths scampered away from the home.
A court heard chainsaws, axes and sledgehammers were pinched from the garage and used in 'every bedroom of the property'
The court heard the youngsters were eventually identified but it had 'taken some time' to investigate.
Recounting the extent of the damage, Ms Smout told the court Mrs Pittard had been 'scared' by noises she heard when she got to the address.
An ornate stained glass window was 'fully smashed', along with 22 other windows, a double glazed conservatory door and numerous other handmade hardwood doors - some of which were over 100 years old.
Ms Smout said the garage had been broken into and
