A teenager insisted he had not been responsible for causing £13,000 worth of damage to a Moray school – despite being caught in the act.
Bryce Reid was caught swinging a wooden broom around a school as he smashed windows and threw objects around Forres Academy.
The 18-year-old was chased by police through the school, but when questioned he claimed he “never did it”.
Yesterday, Reid appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court where his lawyer claimed the teen had been drinking heavily at the time and had “no recollection” of the July 28 incident.
Depute fiscal Alex Swain told the court an alarm at the school was triggered at about 2.30am and a janitor was sent to investigate.
She said: “The janitor arrived at the school at 3am and noticed a fire extinguisher on the floor outside the school.
“As he proceeded to the front door, he saw broken glass all over the floor and contacted the police who arrived and saw a male figure within the school.
“They could see him causing damage with a metal pole inside the school and when the accused saw them, he ran off.
“The officers then heard a loud bang on the first floor and saw the accused running through the classrooms.”
The court heard Reid, of Califer Road, Forres, caused £13,247 of damage.
Last night, Moray Council condemned his actions as “mindless”.
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Defence solicitor Leonard Birkenshaw said: “My client is a first offender and he is a very vulnerable young man.
“He had taken alcohol that night and has no recollection of the event, so obviously that is concerning and he has now stopped drinking completely.
“He is facing a lot of difficulties at the present time, with particular trauma stemming from his background when he was younger.
“This was his first offence, although it was done spectacularly.”
Reid pleaded guilty to causing the destruction either “wilfully or recklessly” at a previous hearing.
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov told the teenager he had committed his first crime “in style” but did not feel a period of detention would be appropriate.
She instead put him on a six-month deferred structured sentence, with a conduct requirement that he kept accessing a psychiatrist and psychologist.
