THE parents of a Tidworth vandal who offered to pay for his wrecking spree have been granted a partial reprieve after a lively debate among councillors.

At a meeting last week town councillors discussed how much of the £1,100 damage caused to one of the buggy shelters outside the community centre should be paid.

In the run-up to Christmas, recently installed CCTV cameras filmed a group of youths outside the centre.

The footage allowed the council to identify the boy who dropkicked two sides of the shelter, causing considerable damage.

Following a visit from mayor and chairman Councillor Chris Franklin, the boy’s parents apologised and offered to pay the full amount.

At the meeting last week it was proposed that the family pay a maximum of £500 towards the repairs, which sparked debate among councillors.

Some thought that the family should not be made to pay anything at all, as they would never have known who did it without the CCTV, while others felt that they should pay the full amount.

After heated conversation it was agreed that, as the boy and his family had been contrite, they should pay £500 within three months and he should engage in service to the community.

Cllr Franklin said: “The family offered to pay the full amount, however, as chairman there are times you have to do the right thing.

“Having been present with the family, they acted in the way we would expect them to react, in favour of the community and straight away said they would pay for the damage.

“Although the full amount would have been nice, it would have set a precedence that others may not be able to follow.”

A letter of apology was also read out at the meeting from another member of the group who smashed a bottle found on the site.