THREE young "vigilantes" were caught seeking a suspect for retribution over an alleged indecency offence, a court heard.

A police mobile patrol came across them in a car being driven slowly round a housing estate in South Hetton, early on April 27 last year.

Durham Crown Court heard they were trying to find the address of the man they suspected of indecently assaulting a young girl, intending to damage his car.

Andrew Finlay, prosecuting, said cans of paint stripper and quick-drying spray paint, a baseball bat, balaclavas, black gloves and over-clothing were found in the car.

Front seat passenger Paul Colin Patton had an extendible metal baton hidden in his clothing.

Mr Findlay said a mobile phone record check revealed a previous text message sent from Patton to car driver David Wren saying: "We're just going to do his car instead of him. It's too risky to do him. Are you up for the drive?"

Wren subsequently replied he wanted "to be part" of the action.

Mr Finlay said the background was an alleged sexual assault which police previously investigated, but decided against proceeding with.

Patton, 22, and 19-year-old Wren, both of Alder Crescent, Hetton-le-Hole, and rear seat passenger William Duncan, 26, of Collingwood Court, Washington, all Wearside, admitted conspiracy to commit criminal damage.

Jane Waugh, mitigating, said: "These were nice young lads who wrongly hatched this idea of going round to damage this car.

"They obviously made a bad decision and, when they were stopped by police, they were in the process of backing out, effectively chickening out."

Judge Tony Lancaster told them: "You got involved in a criminal conspiracy to damage another person's motor vehicle.

"The seriousness of what you did was entering into an agreement in the first place, and it's clear there was some planning.

"It was to be a vigilante act, initially conceived by you, Patton.

"You intended to take the law into your own hands by damaging the car of the person you thought responsible for this allegation."

Judge Lancaster said, fortunately, they appear to have "thought better of it", backing out before anything took place.

The three were ordered to perform unpaid work, 220 hours in Patton's case, 150 hours for Duncan and 120 for Wren.

Costs of £250 were ordered to be paid by Patton, £150 by Duncan and £200 by Wren