TWO teenage vandals have each been told to pay £37.50 compensation as punishment for causing £4,500 damage to Wrecclesham Community Centre.
The pair, who cannot be named because of their ages, broke into the building in June, smashing windows, toilets, sinks and a TV.
The furious chairman of the community centre's management committee, Roger Ellis, who had to clear up the mess and arrange repairs, has written to the court criticising the sentence.
"What kind of message does this give to other local young people about what might happen to them if they are caught causing criminal damage to the value in this incident?" he wrote.
"Does it not say 'You can get away with any vandalism at this site and it won't cost you a penny'?"
The centre's insurance company will pay for some of the damage, but he fears that it might raise its premiums as a result of the damage and the small compensation award.
Quotations to carry out improvements are awaited before reopening the facility for use by local young people.
"I doubt the punishment meted out to these two youths will do much to persuade those who have a tendency to vandalise anything that does not belong to them that this centre is worthy of their support," commented Mr Ellis.