A TEENAGER caught on camera trashing a charity’s otter sculpture just days after the launch of Farnham’s Otter Wey Trail in May is facing court action after being identified by Farnham Town Council, the Herald understands.

‘Billy’, a metre-high fibreglass otter sponsored by the South Street Trust and designed by Surrey Choices, was vandalised in Victoria Garden on Saturday, May 5, - just 24 hours before another otter sculpture ‘Bruce Lea’, sponsored by The Hedgehogs and designed by the children at Badshot Lea Infants School, was also trashed in Bishops Meadow.

Footage of the Victoria Garden incident, captured by the town council’s CCTV system, shows a group of three boys and one girl each on scooters tearing the otter from its plinth, after which one of the boys can be seen jumping on the sculpture, splitting it in half.

Although unconfirmed by Surrey Police - which merely said its investigation and enquiries “remain ongoing” - the Herald understands it is the young male seen jumping on the otter who now faces prosecution.

It comes after the Herald published stills of the CCTV footage, after which a disgusted relative of one of the alleged vandals contacted reporters, as well as the police and town council, to confirm their identities.

According to the relative, who asked to remain anonymous, the youngsters caught on camera were all aged 17 at the time of the offence, and reportedly dropped out of college together earlier this year and have been “running amok” ever since.

“I’m disappointed, upset, angry,” added the relative. “I’m just really sorry on their behalf. I can’t believe that one of ours has done that. It’s absolutely disgusting.”

The impressive array of 44 otters, sponsored and designed by numerous schools, community organisations and businesses, were set on plinths along an eight kilometre trail throughout Farnham during May and June to celebrate the return of otters to the River Wey.

After many months of hard work by organisers, led by the Farnham Lions and Farnham Town Council, the entire ‘romp’ of otters gathered together at the Farnham Carnival fayre last Saturday, during which members of the public were encouraged to vote for their favourites.

The title of ‘Best Community Otter’, receiving more votes than any other at the fayre, was won by ‘otter number 31’, created and decorated by Folly Hill Infants School.