FOUR drunk teenage yobs trashed a model railway exhibition after breaking into a school gym on a pre-exam night out.
The vandals played football among the trains and smashed displays with hammers in a £30,000 wrecking spree after downing vodka.
Tearful organisers of the Market Deeping Model Railway Club had to scrap their annual exhibition of unique hand-made locomotives scheduled for a few hours later.
Many displays were beyond repair. One took 36 years to build.
Singer Rod Stewart, 74, a model railway fan, gave £10,000 towards a well-wishers’ fund to help those affected.
He said: “The collection was priceless. It took me 23 years to build my model railway so I feel their pain.”
Four youths aged 15 and 16 were held after the pre-GCSE rampage at Stamford Welland Academy in Stamford, Lincs.
All admitted criminal damage yesterday at Lincoln Youth Court.
Three got a 12-month referral order. Their parents must pay £500 compensation. Sentence on the fourth was adjourned.
Chairman of the bench John Lock called the damage “mindless, wanton destruction”.
He added: “It beggars belief. The hurt can never be compensated for.”
