THE isolated farmhouse amid the beauty and tranquillity of the Yorkshire Dales was used as an idyllic summer retreat for its elderly owner.

But it was wrecked after becoming a winter party venue for drunken youths who smashed valuable antiques - including Chippendale chairs - to matchwood.

A judge yesterday described the damage to Barbara De Beaumont's dream summer home as "vandalism on a mind boggling scale".

Damien Cameron and Adam Cluderay, both aged 20, admitted burglary at Sparrow Hawk Farm, Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire.

Prosecutor Stephanie Brown said distressed Mrs De Beaumont now viewed her beautiful home where she has lived for 50 years as dirty and contaminated.

After completely trashing the farmhouse, the youths returned to the scene of devastation where they scooped up wrecked Chippendale chairs, broken ornaments, wall lights, candlesticks and other shattered and broken antique furniture into blankets.

The pair - both of Greenwood Avenue, in Pateley Bridge - then dumped the remnants in the countryside.

But they were caught when a DNA sample of spit taken from a wrecked shower unit led to the arrest of Cameron.

During the drunken spree, Cameron alone had kicked through plaster work causing almost £9,000 pounds worth of damage.

Ms Brown said: "Word got around locally that the farm was only occupied during the summer months.

"Knowing this, some youths, after a night's drinking, went to the house in darkness and initially trespassed by watching TV and drinking alcohol."

Mrs Brown said: "They left the door unlocked and sometime later, again after a night drinking, six of them returned to consume their own alcohol and also that left in the house by the owner.

"Then, in a drunken spree of wanton vandalism, substantial damage was done to property and fabric in which expensive antique furniture was shattered into bits."

Richard Scott, representing both accused at York Crown Court, said: "They did not know it was the home of an elderly lady." Both were now filled with remorse.

Mr Scott said they had no idea of the value of the property they were damaging.

Judge Paul Hoffman sent both accused to a young offender's Institution for eight months.