A court heard that Peter Addison, Mark Ridgeway and a 16-year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, let off fire extinguishers and smashed crockery with a cricket bat amid a wrecking spree which caused more than £2,000 of damage.
Two of the boys were caught by police as they fled the Toc H campsite, in Adlington, Cheshire, wearing stolen T-shirts with distinctive logos.
But their capture was made even easier by Addison leaving the most blatant calling card.
Scrawled in thick black marker pen across the walls were - `Peter Addison was here', `The Adlington Massiv', and `Thanks for the Stay'.
Insp Gareth Woods, of Cheshire Police, said: "This crime is up there with the dumbest.
"There have been other stupid criminals in Macclesfield but, in this case, these boys' daftness certainly made our job a lot easier!"
Macclesfield Magistrates' Court was told the events began when Addison, 19, and other friends went to stay with 18-year-old Ridgeway, who was living in a tent in an Adlington field.
Lucy Williams, prosecuting, said police caught the 16-year-old youth and Addison wearing the stolen T-shirts in the early hours of August 20.
Ridgeway, who now lives with his parents in Poynton, and Addison, of Heaton Mersey, Stockport, were ordered to pay two-thirds of the £2,175 compensation bill.
Ridgeway was sentenced to 60 hours' community punishment and Addison was given a one-year conditional discharge. Both must pay £20 costs.
Sentencing of the 16-year-old defendant was adjourned for reports.All three admitted burglary.
Lisa Gibson, defending Addison, said her client had learning difficulties and had been diagnosed with dyspraxia - also known as clumsy child syndrome.
She added: "He told his mum he was going camping and there was no intention of causing any damage."
She said the boys had drunk alcohol and some were playing cricket with a bat and using plates as balls.
Ms Gibson said Addison had struggled to fit in at school and the trio wore the T-shirts because they were cold and wet.
"He is very ashamed and his parents are embarrassed and this will have an affect on his plans to work in the Navy," she told the court.
Caroline King, defending Ridgeway, said: "This was not a sophisticated offence."
After the hearing Toc H volunteer Irene Power, 61, said: "I can't believe one of them was actually called Peter Addison.
"I thought that would be a decoy! It's unbelievable!
"I am just so disappointed with these boys, their actions were stupid and irresponsible. It has taken us hours and hours to clean up and we were just renovating the site.
"The irony is that we see kids with big problems who know how to behave."
The bungling burglars are not the only super-stupid criminals around.
In August of last year, Britain's dumbest hoodie was caught on camera stealing a laptop - from a Manchester CCTV shop. Michael Adams, from Miles Platting, was filmed from every side when he stole from a shop in Dale Street, in Manchester city centre.
He was spotted by a policeman, who recognised him, shortly after the images were published.
The episode was replayed on ITV1's Revenge TV earlier this year. Adams was given a year's community order and a six-month drug rehabilitation order by the courts.
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idiots ! ,make the parents pay for the damage.
These youths obviously crave attention and care.
We should be helping them and taking theyre feelings into account, by punishing them we could push them even further.
Yeah, lets make them a nice hot cup of coco and bake them a cakey!
Can we meet the parents please,i bet they get outsmarted on a daily basis by a stubborn box of cornflakes,some people should not be allowed to breed.
Can anyone tell me when the next Darwin Awards take place?
Addison is sticking up two fingers and saying "I am untouchable".
And he's right, given that they will not be punished in any way why wouldn't Addison identify himself.
Clumsy child syndrome? is that for real?....coz i think I have it.
This is really good graffiti and they are such talented artists - leave them alone.
oh Giles..(I'm clenching my fists and muttering at you)..
Time to bring in National Service again! So if you don't work, don't study then doing nothing and being a leech is not an option!
"These youths obviously crave attention and care. We should be helping them and taking theyre (sic) feelings into account, by punishing them we could push them even further.
Lisa Moore Wilmslow Cheshire
6/09/2007 at 09:03"
Is this another one of those tongue-in-cheek comments I am missing or is she for real? I am inclined to agree with those from yesterday who suggested this is merely a fictional submitter of comments (from MEN) designed to inflame emotions. (or it's Laura Norder in disguise maybe...)
***** Lisa Gibson, defending Addison, said her client had learning difficulties and had been diagnosed with dyspraxia - also known as clumsy child syndrome. ****
DOES THAT MEAN THAT HE DIDN'T CAUSE THE DAMAGE ON PURPOSE, BECAUSE HE JUST FELL OVER & WRECKED THE PLACE???
Well done Ms defence lawyer.........
*******Ms Gibson said Addison had struggled to fit in at school and the trio wore the T-shirts because they were cold and wet*********
ANOTHER LAME EXCUSE .....
Why did these 'sad apologies of youth' not be sentenced to put everything right at the centre at their own cost??? Like the lady from the centre said, they help more disadvantaged & worse affected children that these 'lame excuses'.
They should also have been made to work at the centre to show them not only how to behave but to behave with dignity.
They then might have had an understanding of the community & the consequence of their actions.
Worried you can't join the Navy???? Well I would hope that Navy recruitment wouldn't touch you with a barge pole. There are a lot more deserving individuals for decent careers & you should have thought about it before your actions.
I wouldn't think that the Navy would wnat you with kind of dyspraxia anyway!!!!!
Is it unfair to penalise the poor boy because of one unthinking mistake ???? Well I'm sorry yes it is.........
They cant be that dumb at least they can spell and write their names? i know quite a few young adults and children who cannot write their names? Twp strokes of the birch would alter their attitude to other peoples property.
Ace.
couldn't agree more.
maybe when they finished thrashing them, they could put a notice up saying "peter addison was birched here".
Amazing, Maccc police actually caught someone! I suppose they couldnt use the "not enough evidence" excuse.
Its quite common some idiot I went to school with wrote his name on the lav walls when he vandalised them-Silly people have existed a long time
I would like to point out that most British Garden Birds are not actually gay. (except the Chaffinch...)
JPA, Urmston - i'm going to have to correct you there. i've seen male starlings clearly coming on to eachother in my back garden.
The photographs of the pair coming out of court say it all for me and is a sad indictment on the "yoof" of today. Where is the suit? At least a tie surely?
No - because no one has any fear or respect for authority or pride in their appearance. Bring back National Service for layabout wasters like these.
ace: some people can string Twp letters together :-)
marc: I once saw a pair of puffins puffin.
Is this the face of the Notorious 'Fearsome' Ardlington massive??!
The gang that terrorises communities with shocking handwriting and spelling mistakes, a gang to be feared indeed.
Clearly run by the brightest of individuals.
Lock your doors at night!
Peter Addison is an idiot!
Addison was given a one-year conditional discharge. Both must pay £20 costs.
Well, a whole conditional discharge, AND £20 costs!!!
That will really punish him wont it!?
Where is the deterant? People should be afraid of committing crime, especially Burglary, not let off with a £20 fine/costs!-what a waste of time...
The Catcher, In the Rye
I know the "o" is next to the "p" mate and my spelling is terrible.At least with "Office" i have a spell check.