A ROW broke out in court after a magistrate labell-ed two boys who desecrated Blackburn Cathedral ‘absolute scum’.

The boys, both 16, white and from Darwen, wrote racist and sexually-abusive graffiti in prayer books, and bent a priceless John The Baptist cross out of shape, causing £3,000 damage.

They were caught after writing their name in the visitors’ book.

Today, Boy A was given an 18-month supervision order and fined £1,500, and Boy B was given a 12-month supervision order and fined £100.

Sentencing them, magistrate Austin Molloy labelled the boys ‘absolute scum’.

But Christine Dean, clerk of the court, stood and objected to the ‘inappropriate language’.

The mother of Boy B said she would be making an official complaint.

Last month, at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court, Boy A pleaded guilty to damaging the cross, and Boy B to defacing and damaging the books last October.

Mr Molloy told them today: “This court is disgusted by the mindless destruction you have caused.

"Normal people would consider you absolute scum.

“If it was in our power, we would have you both stand in front of the congregation at 10am on Sunday and explain your words and actions to them to see if they could understand it, because we can’t.”

Clerk Ms Dean stood and told the magistrate: “It is totally inappropriate and unjust for you to use the term ‘absolute scum’ in the youth court.”

Both boys will repay their fines at a rate of £10 per week.

They carried out their attack after following a group into the cathedral one afternoon out of curiosity.

Insults written in the prayer and visitor books included: “I will kill all Jews. Don’t underestimate me,” and lurid sexual comments about ‘the vicar’.