POLICE say the prosecution of a yob who smashed a funeral parlour window shows antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated in Highworth.

A 16-year-old boy was ordered to pay £50 compensation and £34 costs after he threw a traffic cone through the window of G and L Evans Family Funeral Services in Newburgh Place, Highworth.

The teenager, who caused more than £2,000 worth of damage, was sentenced at Swindon Youth Court.

Magistrates heard how on the evening of March 14 the youth, who cannot be named because of his age, was with a gang of more than 20 youths hanging around outside the undertakers.

The boy claimed he had meant to hurl the cone at a friend but the lad moved out of the way and the cone smashed the window.

Prosecutor Frank Murphy said: "He says he didn't mean to cause damage to the window but it was a reckless action that caused extensive and expensive damage."

Andrew Hobson, defending, said that the schoolboy had not meant to cause trouble.

"He was outside the premises with no intention at all of causing any disorder," he said.

"It's a classic offence of recklessness, not intentional offending."

The offence happened in Highworth, where police say the Adver-based It's Your Call anti-social behaviour drive is working.

After the hearing, Police Sergeant Max Sharman, of Highworth, said the case sent a powerful message to young thugs who have been causing mayhem in town.

"We are gradually chipping away at the anti-social behaviour of a small number of youths in Highworth.

"I am sure together with the backing of the courts and our local community we can beat this problem.

"We have further offences to put to various members of this group and we will be doing so in the future.

"If they continue in this vein they can expect to be making more appearances at court in the future because antisocial behaviour is a blight on the residents of Highworth."

Geoff Evans, 48, who owns G and L Evans Family Funeral Services, said: "It does send a message out.

"We're very pleased the police caught somebody and the fact that he went to court will make an example of him to the people he hangs around with.

"Hopefully they will realise now that their behaviour will be punished."

Gareth Bethell