A 14-year-old admitted burglary and theft from Wickham Bishops Tennis Club.
Witham Magistrates' Court yesterday heard how a youth from Great Totham and some friends cut their way through a wire fence and smashed four panels to break into the clubhouse in Church Road, Wickham Bishops.
The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and his friends then played tennis and threw balls into a nearby field, before drinking coffee within the club.
Tennis rackets, worth £250, were also reported missing from the club, as well as a bottle of Ribena and the clubhouse door key, the court heard.
Police found youths matching their description in Kelvedon Road, Wickham Bishops, shortly afterwards, but because the youths were not carrying rackets, they were not arrested.
However, DNA evidence was found on one of the club's coffee mugs and one of the youths was then arrested, the court was told.
The youth admitted charges of burglary and theft of the bottle of Ribena and club key. No charges for the rackets' theft were brought.
Magistrates gave him a three-month referral order and ordered him to pay £60 compensation to the club.
Published Wednesday January 21, 2004
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