A YOUNGSTER who smashed a flower pot while showing off to friends was forced to take part in a gardening session as punishment.

The 12-year-old was dealt with via a restorative justice scheme rather than being sent through the legal system.

His vandalism caused £50 of damage to a large wooden planter located on the village green in Sedgefield.

Police identified him using CCTV which covers the green.

PC Keith Todd, of Sedgefield police, said: “He destroyed one of the wooden planters as when he pushed it off the display it smashed.

“When we interviewed him he fully admitted what he had done and because of that we decided to use a restorative justice approach.

“That is the end of it as far as the police are concerned and he will not have a criminal record.

“I think that this is a very good way of dealing with an incident like this and as a way of showing a youngster the error of his ways.”

The father of the youngster said: “It’s a good way of dealing with this and of making him realise what he has done.

“This is a one off as he is normally no bother. He will keep out of trouble from now.”

The planters were paid for and placed on the green by Sedgefield Town Council.

Stephen Young, the council’s gardener, ran the youth’s gardening session.

He said: “I think this approach is a good idea. He can see what he did was wrong and this may make him stop and think before he does it again.”