A TEENAGER who trashed a privately-rented house and left the owner with a £20,000 bill walked free from court without having to pay a penny in compensation yesterday.

Judge Howard Crowson told Lee Davis – who has not worked since he left school – that he wanted to make him foot the bill but it was impossible because he has no money.

The move angered the home’s owner, Glenn Schofield, who last night told The Northern Echo: “That’s justice for you. I believe the punishment should fit the crime.”

Davis’ barrister, Rod Hunt, told Teesside Crown Court: “If he had been a celebrity hellraiser or a member of the Bullingdon Club he would have just written a cheque, but he’s not.”

Mr Schofield had to spend £2,000 clearing the house in Westbrook Terrace, Darlington, of filth and broken property after 18-year-old Davis moved out in August.

His insurance company has quoted a further £18,500 to repair damage and replace things such as broken windows, kitchen appliances, smashed doors and a stair rail.

Sue Jacobs, prosecuting, told the court that paint had also been thrown over walls and the fireplace in the wrecking spree – after Davis and his girlfriend had been asked to leave.

Davis, who now lives in Westray Court, Cumbernauld, near Glasgow, was arrested after PC John Forster, who investigated the crime, traced him to his address in Scotland.

He pleaded guilty to criminal damage and was given an 18-month community order and told to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work for the community – north of the border.

Mr Hunt told Judge Crowson: “He is treating this case very seriously indeed, having travelled all the way to come to court today knowing the potential consequences for him.

“If he was completely reckless and feckless, he would be staying over the border, playing catch me if you can, but with limited resources he has come down to face the music.”

Mr Hunt told the court that Davis hoped to join the Army, and either a prison sentence or a suspended jail term would have resulted in “the door being slammed shut in his face”.

Judge Crowson said: “I wish I could make you pay for the damage you have done. I can’t.

But I note it is your intention to obtain paid employment and, perhaps, the insurers will pursue you then.”

Mr Schofield said that he thought the sentence could encourage other incidents by making the vandals believe they could get away with it.

He said: “I would have liked him to do some hard labour – maybe cleaning somewhere would have been appropriate.

It is a very disappointing situation.”