Members of the Market Deeping Model Railway Club said a “life’s work” had been ruined. Some displays
had taken years to complete.
The boys, who cannot be identified because of their age, were arrested at the school after police responded
to an intruder alarm and found them in the toilets at 4am on 18 May.
They admitted criminal damage at Lincoln Youth Court and three of them were sentenced to 12-month
referral orders.
Their parents were ordered to pay £500 each in compensation for the damage – a total of £1,500. The
fourth boy will be sentenced next month.
John Lock, chair of the bench of magistrates, told the youths: “In nearly 20 years on the bench, I cannot
recall such a case as this, of mindless, wanton destruction. It beggars belief. In the dead of night, when
people are in their beds in the main, you were out playing football, which is extraordinary at that time of
night. You came across the displays and models, all of you ... and not content with kicking a ball, you then
went on a rampage. The mindlessness comes shining through.”
Mr Lock added: “It would not be right to put you into custody. You have all got good futures and it is right
that you make best use of them. Nothing can compensate for what you did that night.”
More than £107,000 has already been raised by members of the public – including £10,000 from singer
and model rail enthusiast Sir Rod Stewart – to repair the exhibitions.
Prosecutor Shelley Wilson told the court that one of the boys claimed that the initial damage was caused by
accident when they started playing football. “He said he went in to play football and to sleep,” said Ms
Wilson. “They saw the displays but continued to play. He claimed it was accidental. He then said he pushed
over a few displays and caused some damage, as did the others.”
One of the boys’ defence solicitors, Lynford Fuller, said they were “in drink” after sharing a bottle of vodka,
which may have “impaired their judgment”.
The youths apologised for their behaviour, while their parents said they were “ashamed” and
“disappointed”.
One model railway enthusiast, John Kneeshaw from St Neots Model Railway Club, said he had suffered
£15,000 worth of damage to his displays, which took 20 to 25 years to build.
“You can’t just buy them, they are all made by me and are unique,” he said in a statement read out in court.
“I am in total shock as to what has happened and why. The cost emotionally is very high – this is years of
work and I do not understand why anyone would want to do this. It is truly devastating. It had been
systematically destroyed by whoever had done it – the damage is not repairable or replaceable.”