A 12-year-old boy who pleaded guilty to causing more than £2,500 worth of damage to a woman’s car has been ordered to pay £1,200 compensation.

The boy, who is from Stevenage but cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared at Watford Magistrates’ Court on January 8.

On October 22 last year he caused £2674.55 worth of damage to a Mini Cooper convertible in Stevenage.

Last Wednesday he was given a three-month referral order, which means the boy and a parent will meet with specially trained volunteers, a youth offending team officer and possibly the victim to negotiate a contract of payback to the victim or the community and a programme of work to address his offending behaviour.

He was also ordered to pay £1200 compensation and a £15 victim surcharge.