A teenager who damaged a motorbike is today undertaking unpaid work after he was told by magistrates to “stop living like a prat”.

FELIXSTOWE: A teenager who damaged a motorbike is today undertaking unpaid work after he was told by magistrates to “stop living like a prat”.

Anthony Mills, of Langley Close, Felixstowe, was spotted on CCTV pushing over a motorbike on November 11, which damaged the brake lever.

South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard Mills, who is 18 and unemployed, was with a group of people walking along Hamilton Road when the incident happened. Magistrates were told the damage caused cost �100.

In an interview with police, he told officers he was pushed into the bike, but after realising there was CCTV footage, admitted he caused the damage deliberately.

The court was told the incident put him in breach of a conditional discharge for a previous criminal damage offence.

Claire Hullock, mitigating, explained that Mills had been homeless for some time but has now got support from Sanctuary Housing and is in shared accommodation.

She said: “At the time of the incident he was homeless and was drinking too much and using cannabis.

“He has had a difficult family situation. He is now committed to sort things out. When he was homeless, he mixed with the wrong type of people.”

Peter Page, chairman of the bench, said: “You have got a good chance. You are not homeless now. Everyone is trying to help you and now you have to demonstrate you appreciate it.

“Stop living like a prat.”

He was ordered to undertake 40 hours of unpaid work for breaching the conditional discharge and 40 hours of unpaid work for damaging the motorbike, to run concurrently. He was also ordered to pay �50 in compensation, which was added to the money already owed to the court.

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