A teenager who with other youths targeted drivers in railway station car parks has been sentenced to 15 months youth custody.

Luke Courtney continued to steal from cars even after he was arrested for earlier offences and released on bail.

“If there was anything that was going to stop anyone with any sense, it would be getting arrested,” said Judge O’Mahony at Maidstone Crown Court.

“But, no, you put up two fingers, or one finger, whichever the fashion is, and committed other offences, including four on one day.”

Courtney, of The Cockpits, Marden, admitted 15 charges of theft, two of attempted theft and one of handling stolen goods.

The court heard that windows of cars were smashed and stereos and satellite navigation systems were stolen at Marden, Paddock Wood, Hildenborough and Staplehurst stations in June and July last year.

Deborah Charles, prosecuting, said commuters returned to their vehicles to find damage and items missing.

Miss Charles said Courtney, 19, was identified on CCTV film. He was seen with younger boys moving around the cars.

He was arrested and questioned, before being granted bail. About a month later he was again caught on security cameras. He tried to hide his face by walking away with his hood up.

One victim, Paul Drayson, had a mobile phone stolen from his car at Marden and £4,500 worth of calls were made.

Miss Charles asked Judge James O’Mahony to impose an ASBO on Courtney, but he replied that if custody did not work, such an order was not likely to.

Nicola Higgins, defending, said the crimes were entirely motivated by drug addiction.

She said Courtney had not had the benefit of parental guidance and role models and had been in and out of care homes since he was seven.

Courtney had written a letter to victims saying he had no right to steal their property and claiming he was ashamed of his behaviour.

The court heard he had since stopped taking drugs and had got a job with a window cleaning company, to which he could return on his release.