A gang of youths looted flood-wrecked homes in Carlisle city centre just weeks after disaster struck, a court heard.

The shocking crime was outlined at the city’s magistrates’ court in two hearings which ended with one of the teenagers – a 15-year-old boy – being locked up for a year.

Another boy, aged 16, was given a community sentence.

The group targeted houses in the Corporation Road area, which, along with dozens of other streets in the city, was left under several feet of water in the days after the December 5 flood last year.

At the Rickergate court – a building which was itself flooded – prosecutor John Moran outlined how on December 22 last year the several involved targeted the evacuated terraced homes.

The younger boy in court admitted two burglaries and four attempted burglaries with intent to steal.

Describing his role in what

happened, Mr Moran said that all the houses involved were empty, with some undergoing renovation.

The offences came to light on December 23 when the owner of one house arrived to continue his renovation but found the front door had been kicked in, and the downstairs window smashed.

A neighbouring house had also been raided.

Mr Moran said: “The defendant accepts that he entered two of the properties as a trespasser. In relation [to one of the houses] he says he went into the property with the other people.”

One house alone suffered damage which will cost £1,100 to put right. The teenager blamed his co-defendant for damaging the house but forensic evidence showed his footmarks were on the windows.

Mr Moran said: “His explanation was that everybody else was doing it so he joined in.”

The boy’s defence solicitor, Sara Budniak, said her client, whose mother was a single parent, had learning difficulties, and he appeared to be vulnerable and easily led and manipulated by others.

He had no criminal record until this year, she said.

“He now realises that he can’t afford to get into these situations in the future,” Miss Budniak told the court.

After hearing about the offences, District Judge Gerald Chalk told the boy: “What I find difficult is that it was not one, or two of these offences.

“It was six, all on the same night.

“You’ve broken doors and climbed into people’s houses, knowing perfectly well why they were empty.”

As he imposed 12 months detention and training, and the boy was led away in handcuffs, the teenager’s mother – close to tears – said: “You can’t take him away! He’ll not manage.”

Earlier, the court heard about the role of the second, older defendant, who admitted burglary and theft.

Mr Moran said he had gone into one of the houses on Corporation Road. He was with two girls and two boys.

The teenager said it was one of his pals – the other defendant in court – who kicked in the house’s front door.

He said everybody was “messing around”.

While exploring upstairs he had found and taken a snooker cue, but he later returned it to the street because he felt that taking it was unfair.

Geoff Clapp, for the boy, said he too had learning difficulties and was easily led.

It was not clear whether he went into the house because he was bullied or persuaded to do it.

Imposing a 10 month youth referral order, Judge Chalk told him: “What makes it worse is that it occurred just after the floods.

“The word often used for that is looting, and certainly people who have been doing this kind of thing in Carlisle in the last year went to prison, and they went to prison for longer because they had taken advantage of people who had suffered.

“I think that’s right because these people had suffered enough.

“It’s very, very wrong.”

The judge accepted that the defendant was very young, easily led and had never before been in trouble. He added: “You are bright enough to know you should not have done it. I think you know that at the bottom of your heart.”

The judge ruled that the boy’s mother should pay the victim £125 compensation.

A second 16-year-old boy has admitted burglary and will be sentenced on September 21 after background reports are prepared.