Teenager who vandalised Darwen Tower completes repair work (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Teenager who vandalised Darwen Tower completes repair work

10:00am Saturday 24th November 2012 in News

Darwen Town councillor Coun Paul Browne inspects the damage

A TEENAGER who caused £500 of damage after daubing graffitti on the new dome at Darwen Tower has worked with a park friends group as payback for his actions.

The 16-year-old boy admitted causing the damage in March after the dome was replaced at the landmark.

Apprentice engineers at Darwen firm WEC had made the replacement after the previous one had blown off in high winds.

Last month, the youngster met with representatives from Blackburn with Darwen Council to learn about the impact the damage had on the local community and to apologise for his actions.

The council then arranged for the boy to work with the Friends of Bold Venture Park on two consecutive Saturday mornings, where he helped to weed and trim bushes.

Cheryl Furness, the police’s East Lancashire restorative justice co-ordinator, said the boy was sorry for what he had done.

She said: “The meeting gave the council the opportunity to express the extent of the damage caused by the graffiti, the cost to have it put right and the impact on the local community.

“During the meeting the boy expressed genuine remorse for his actions and was keen to do some voluntary work to make amends.”

Chairman of the Friends of Bold Venture Park Harry Duxbury said: “He did very well and helped on a couple of working parties.

“He seemed a nice, quiet lad and hopefully he will have learned something from it.”

Coun Faryad Hussain, executive member for environmental improvement and sustainability, said: “The person who causes the damage should help to put it right.

“That is what restorative justice is about and I hope he will learn the lesson that every action has a consequence.

“I am glad he was remorseful and hopefully he will not do anything like this again.”