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‘£40,000 digger rampage just teen high jinks’

The cab was ripped from the base of a digger as the duo embarked on their trail of destruction.
The cab was ripped from the base of a digger as the duo embarked on their trail of destruction.

Two teens caused nearly £40,000 of damage after going on a rampage at a Moray building site.

The duo, who cannot be named for legal reasons, used a digger to claw the cab off a construction vehicle as they went on the rampage.

The controls of the machinery were pressed into the mud after being ripped from their base.

Yesterday the 17 and 16-year-old were spared a custodial sentence at Elgin Sheriff Court for leaving the trail of destruction.

Neighbours reported hearing “crunching metal” and the sound of “metal poles banging” at 4am on December 14 last year.

When police entered the Scotia Homes site at Hamilton Gardens in Elgin, they discovered holes had been gouged in the ground, cables pulled to the surface and machinery dragged across the mud.

Fiscal Alex Swain described the destruction that officers discovered after forcing entry into the yard.

She said: “Numerous areas of fencing were seen to be crushed by a tracked vehicle. Underground drains and electrical cabling had all been dug up. At the centre of buildings site two diggers were found. A Doosan make, valued at £30,000 had a track missing.

“Its cab had been smashed by a yellow New Holland digger using the bucket.”

It was estimated that a total of £37,000 damage was caused during the break-in.

The teenagers admitted “maliciously” entering the construction site without permission and using a key to start the machinery.

Following the incident Billy Miller, owner of the firm that was using the diggers, described the damage as “mindless” and “unbelievable”.

Just days before breaking into the building site the teenagers also ransacked an office at Elgin Academy looking for money.

The duo stole £100, tobacco and cigarette papers after breaking into the school on December 9 last year.

Miss Swain said: “When staff arrived they discovered drawers had been opened, including the keys cabinet.

“It was found that entry to the gym could be forced by bouncing the doors.”

Defence solicitor Stephen Carty told the court yesterday the youths did not appreciate the seriousness of their actions at the time.

He said: “We are dealing with an extremely immature and naive young man who simply did not appreciate the gravity of what he was doing.

“As far as they were concerned they were simply up to high jinks.

“If he wasn’t aware of the value of the damage at the time then he is certainly aware of it now.”

Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald placed the teenagers under supervision for 18 months and ordered them to do 120 hours of unpaid work.