Two 18-year-olds who tried to steal £15,000 worth of lead from a school’s roof have been sentenced to a six month community order.

Samuel Kilpatrick, of Tichmarsh, Epsom, and George Jones, of Rutland Close, Epsom, were arrested after they were seen breaking into the German School, in Richmond.

The pair were sentenced at Richmond Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday after pleading guilty to theft and criminal damage.

Kilpatrick was ordered to wear an electric tag and keep to an eight week curfew, and Jones must spend a total of 24 hours at a support centre.

The court heard that the teenagers, along with two friends, broke into the school in Petersham at 2am on June 14, and scaled the roof before removing the valuable lead and piling it up on the ground below.

However, security guards spotted them from a nearby polo club and called the police.

Officers arrested Kilpatrick and Jones and found lead residue on their hands and clothes.

John Shepherd, prosecuting, said: "Effectively they were caught in the act. The school's facility manager said the damage on the roof was extensive, and I'd estimate it to have cost the school several thousands of pounds. The criminal damage aspect is the crude way it was removed."

Nathan Rasiah, defending Jones, said he was studying for his A-levels at home, and was waiting to see if he would be a suitable match to donate a kidney to his father.

He asked the court to take these factors into consideration when passing sentence.

He said: “The offence was an unfortunate offence in so far as it caused damage to a school and Mr Jones has expressed great remorse to that.”

Julian Waskett, defending Kilpatrick, said his client was due to start an engineering course at Guildford College this week.

The teenagers were ordered to pay £70 costs.