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TRIO of teenage yobs who broke into an office at a campsite for underprivileged children and ransacked it have been branded 'up there with the dumbest' - after one left his full name scribbled on a wall.
A court heard that Peter Addison, Mark Ridgeway and a 16-year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, let off fire extinguishers and smashed crockery with a cricket bat amid a wrecking spree which caused more than £2,000 of damage.
Two of the boys were caught by police as they fled the Toc H campsite, in Adlington, Cheshire, wearing stolen T-shirts with distinctive logos.
But their capture was made even easier by Addison leaving the most blatant calling card.
Scrawled in thick black marker pen across the walls were - `Peter Addison was here', `The Adlington Massiv', and `Thanks for the Stay'.
Insp Gareth Woods, of Cheshire Police, said: "This crime is up there with the dumbest.
"There have been other stupid criminals in Macclesfield but, in this case, these boys' daftness certainly made our job a lot easier!"
Macclesfield Magistrates' Court was told the events began when Addison, 19, and other friends went to stay with 18-year-old Ridgeway, who was living in a tent in an Adlington field.
Lucy Williams, prosecuting, said police caught the 16-year-old youth and Addison wearing the stolen T-shirts in the early hours of August 20.
Ridgeway, who now lives with his parents in Poynton, and Addison, of Heaton Mersey, Stockport, were ordered to pay two-thirds of the £2,175 compensation bill.
Ridgeway was sentenced to 60 hours' community punishment and Addison was given a one-year conditional discharge. Both must pay £20 costs.
Sentencing of the 16-year-old defendant was adjourned for reports.All three admitted burglary.
Lisa Gibson, defending Addison, said her client had learning difficulties and had been diagnosed with dyspraxia - also known as clumsy child syndrome.
She added: "He told his mum he was going camping and there was no intention of causing any damage."
She said the boys had drunk alcohol and some were playing cricket with a bat and using plates as balls.
Ms Gibson said Addison had struggled to fit in at school and the trio wore the T-shirts because they were cold and wet.
"He is very ashamed and his parents are embarrassed and this will have an affect on his plans to work in the Navy," she told the court.
Caroline King, defending Ridgeway, said: "This was not a sophisticated offence."
After the hearing Toc H volunteer Irene Power, 61, said: "I can't believe one of them was actually called Peter Addison.
"I thought that would be a decoy! It's unbelievable!
"I am just so disappointed with these boys, their actions were stupid and irresponsible. It has taken us hours and hours to clean up and we were just renovating the site.
"The irony is that we see kids with big problems who know how to behave."
The bungling burglars are not the only super-stupid criminals around.
In August of last year, Britain's dumbest hoodie was caught on camera stealing a laptop - from a Manchester CCTV shop. Michael Adams, from Miles Platting, was filmed from every side when he stole from a shop in Dale Street, in Manchester city centre.
He was spotted by a policeman, who recognised him, shortly after the images were published.
The episode was replayed on ITV1's Revenge TV earlier this year. Adams was given a year's community order and a six-month drug rehabilitation order by the courts.
A court heard that Peter Addison, Mark Ridgeway and a 16-year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, let off fire extinguishers and smashed crockery with a cricket bat amid a wrecking spree which caused more than £2,000 of damage.
Two of the boys were caught by police as they fled the Toc H campsite, in Adlington, Cheshire, wearing stolen T-shirts with distinctive logos.
But their capture was made even easier by Addison leaving the most blatant calling card.
Scrawled in thick black marker pen across the walls were - `Peter Addison was here', `The Adlington Massiv', and `Thanks for the Stay'.
Insp Gareth Woods, of Cheshire Police, said: "This crime is up there with the dumbest.
"There have been other stupid criminals in Macclesfield but, in this case, these boys' daftness certainly made our job a lot easier!"
Macclesfield Magistrates' Court was told the events began when Addison, 19, and other friends went to stay with 18-year-old Ridgeway, who was living in a tent in an Adlington field.
Lucy Williams, prosecuting, said police caught the 16-year-old youth and Addison wearing the stolen T-shirts in the early hours of August 20.
Ridgeway, who now lives with his parents in Poynton, and Addison, of Heaton Mersey, Stockport, were ordered to pay two-thirds of the £2,175 compensation bill.
Ridgeway was sentenced to 60 hours' community punishment and Addison was given a one-year conditional discharge. Both must pay £20 costs.
Sentencing of the 16-year-old defendant was adjourned for reports.All three admitted burglary.
Lisa Gibson, defending Addison, said her client had learning difficulties and had been diagnosed with dyspraxia - also known as clumsy child syndrome.
She added: "He told his mum he was going camping and there was no intention of causing any damage."
She said the boys had drunk alcohol and some were playing cricket with a bat and using plates as balls.
Ms Gibson said Addison had struggled to fit in at school and the trio wore the T-shirts because they were cold and wet.
"He is very ashamed and his parents are embarrassed and this will have an affect on his plans to work in the Navy," she told the court.
Caroline King, defending Ridgeway, said: "This was not a sophisticated offence."
After the hearing Toc H volunteer Irene Power, 61, said: "I can't believe one of them was actually called Peter Addison.
"I thought that would be a decoy! It's unbelievable!
"I am just so disappointed with these boys, their actions were stupid and irresponsible. It has taken us hours and hours to clean up and we were just renovating the site.
"The irony is that we see kids with big problems who know how to behave."
The bungling burglars are not the only super-stupid criminals around.
In August of last year, Britain's dumbest hoodie was caught on camera stealing a laptop - from a Manchester CCTV shop. Michael Adams, from Miles Platting, was filmed from every side when he stole from a shop in Dale Street, in Manchester city centre.
He was spotted by a policeman, who recognised him, shortly after the images were published.
The episode was replayed on ITV1's Revenge TV earlier this year. Adams was given a year's community order and a six-month drug rehabilitation order by the courts.
