Yobs aged nine break into yard to destroy charity bus

A GARAGE boss has told how children as young as nine broke into his yard and smashed up a minibus used for charity outings, leaving it a write-off.

• The bus's windscreen was smashed

Colin Martin believes a group of a dozen children are responsible for two separate attacks at his Easyfit Tyres lock-up where the bus used to ferry community groups has had its windows smashed, electrics ripped out and even been driven into a metal container.

The gang has also driven another car into a wall and destroyed the interior of the 17-seat minibus.

Local residents in Armadale, West Lothian, reported the most recent rampage and called the police but the youngsters quickly fled.

Mr Martin, 40, said he was stunned to learn that the culprits were young children.

"The police said there was about a dozen youngsters involved, including two who were around nine years old.

"Those two were seen throwing stones at the van while others who were a bit older did most of the damage.

"It was heartbreaking seeing what they had done. The minibus is absolutely destroyed.

"They even got underneath the vehicle and pulled off the panelling and ripped out all the wires. It just wouldn't even be worth sorting out."

Mr Martin said a previous attack saw the youngsters break into his office, steal keys to his son's Vauxhall Corsa and reverse it into a wall.

The garage owner bought the minibus in 2007 to help transport his son's football team to away games. Soon he was also taking elderly and disabled people to meetings and outings free of charge.

"I thought I should give something back to the community and bought the van," he said.

The minibus, which cost 3000, is now a destined for the scrap yard but Mr Martin, a mechanic who has run the Armadale business for 14 years, said he wouldn't give up his volunteering work.

He said: "I'm not going to let these people get me down and by the summer I hope to have another minibus.

"I will sell it and expect to get around 300 which I'll donate to the visually impaired bowlers group because I feel bad they're having to spend money on getting another minibus instead of using mine for free."

He added: "All this happened on a Sunday afternoon. I think the problem is that youngsters are bored as there's not a lot to do around here. There is a playpark but some of the younger ones are afraid to go and play in there because sometimes there's older kids sitting there drinking Buckfast."

Mr Martin's dad, Kenneth, 64, who also works in the garage, said the most recent attack on April 10 was baffling.

"We have had some problems before but I don't know why they would do this. I have no idea. They didn't half go to town on the place."