Model railway lovers devastated as vandals smash years of work

[John Ashworth]

Model railway lovers devastated as vandals smash years of work

Rampage leaves ‘grown men with tears in their eyes’ as show is cancelled...

[John Ashworth]

Sir Rod Stewart donates to Market Deeping Model Railway Club

Sir Rod Stewart says he is donating £10,000 to a model railway club whose exhibition was destroyed by vandals...

The 74-year-old singer - and model railway enthusiast - said he was "absolutely devastated" by the attack...

The singer said: "It took me 23 years to build my model railway so I feel their pain.

"The collection was priceless and I am donating £10,000 to help compensate those affected and asking fellow enthusiasts Jools Holland, Roger Daltrey and others to do the same"...

[John Ashworth]

Rod Stewart donates £10,000 after model railway club vandalised

[John Ashworth]

'Mindless' youths who trashed £30,000 model railway sentenced

Three “mindless” youths shared a bottle of vodka as part of pre-exam night out before deliberately trashing a model railway exhibition worth £30,000, a court has heard.

The schoolboys, along with a fourth defendant, went on a 4am rampage by pushing tables over and throwing parts of displays against the wall.

The four 16-year-olds admitted criminal damage at Lincoln youth court on Monday. Three of the youths were handed 12-month referral orders (community sentences) and each told to pay £500 compensation due to the “not repairable or replaceable” damage, plus £85 prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Magistrates ordered their parents to pay the money on their behalf because none of the boys has any income...

Rather a lenient sentence, one might think.

[John Ashworth]

‘Mindless wanton destruction’: Schoolboys’ parents to pay £1,500 after £30,000 model railway show trashed

John Lock, chair of the bench of magistrates, told the youths: “In nearly 20 years on the bench, I cannot recall such a case as this, of mindless, wanton destruction. It beggars belief. In the dead of night, when people are in their beds in the main, you were out playing football, which is extraordinary at that time of night.

“You came across the displays and models, all of you ... and not content with kicking a ball, you then went on a rampage. The mindlessness comes shining through.”

Mr Lock added: “It would not be right to put you into custody. You have all got good futures and it is right that you make best use of them. Nothing can compensate for what you did that night.”

More than £107,000 has already been raised by members of the public – including £10,000 from singer and model rail enthusiast Sir Rod Stewart – to repair the exhibitions...

[John Ashworth]

Model railway trashed by vandals restored with Rod Stewart's help

A model railway exhibit that was destroyed by vandals has gone on display after being restored thanks to an outpouring of donations...

A surge in crowdfunded donations, including £10,000 from singer and model railway enthusiast Sir Rod Stewart, allowed the club to raise more than £107,000 for repairs. The sets are now restored and on display at the Warley National Model Railway Show at the Birmingham NEC...