A burglar who stole £5,200 worth of electrical goods from a school told magistrates the only way he could pay compensation would be to re-offend.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted stealing five computers, six Kindles, and three computer screens from Grey Court School in Ham.

He denied taking £500 in cash when he appeared at Wimbledon Youth Court on Wednesday, March 20.

The court heard the 17-year-old and his friend fled after setting off a burglar alarm when they climbed through an open window.

But the pair returned 10 minutes later to ransack the classrooms at about 3am on February 2.

Prosecutor Stanley Amah said: “CCTV showed the perpetrators going from room to room taking items which they then piled in the hallway.”

Mr Amah said the boy’s friend called a minicab and the pair left and sold off their haul that night.

The 17-year-old admitted he split the money from the sale with his accomplice but said he did not know what he spent it on and did not say how much they sold the goods for.

Head magistrate Margaret Wilson handed the boy a youth rehabilitation order for nine months, to be completed by December 19, including an electronic tag for three months.

She also ordered him to pay £500 in compensation, which she said was a token payment and when she asked how he would pay it he laughed and said he only had 50p.

He said: “The only way I am going to get £500 is if I re-offend.”

Mrs Wilson said: “This is a very nasty offence.

“I should warn you that you will soon be 18 and if you go on offending at this level you will be in the adult court where you will almost certainly be looking at a custodial sentence.”

A school caretaker discovered the theft and police used CCTV to identify the 17-year-old who was arrested by police, who also seized a chisel, hammer and six wraps of cannabis from his home.

A pair of trainers left by the boy’s accomplice led police to the second burglar, another 17-year-old who was arrested and was due to be sentenced for the offence at the same court on March 27.

Students and staff were left distressed and upset by the burglary, which left the school out of pocket.

None of the goods stolen were recovered and teachers said the loss of equipment significantly disrupted school life.

Director of finance and operations at Grey Court School Jane Smith said new equipment had to be ordered but not all the costs were covered by the insurance.

She said: “It was very frustrating to come to work to find a range of staff computer equipment missing, as well as Kindles provided in the library for students to enjoy.

“The money would have been better spent on additional resources for students.

“We are pleased that our CCTV system provided images which enabled the police to catch the culprits and hope this will serve as a deterrent to others.”