A teenager stood watch as his friends — including the son of a former punk rocker who fled to Syria to join Isis — burned, urinated on and spat at a Union Flag.

The 14-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to arson at a Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court hearing today and will have to complete a three-month referral order.

The court heard how he, along with another 14-year-old boy and Jonathan Wilkinson, 18, joined forces to pull down and torch the flag outside Borough Green village hall in October.

The court heard how Wilkinson — who is the the son of Sally Jones, the Chatham woman who fled to Syria to join the Islamic State — was the ring leader.

Wilkinson, who along with the other 14-year-old was cautioned after admitting his guilt to police, was at the court yesterday to offer moral support to the defendant.

CCTV footage shows the two youths standing on each others shoulders and pulling the flag down while the defendant stood watch in October last year.

They then set the £50 flag, which belonged to Borough Green Parish Council, alight before spitting and urinating on it.

Prosecutor Paul Edwards said it left the village without a Union Flag to commemorate Remembrance Day.

The defendant expressed his embarrassment and regret about the incident and said he had wanted to go home and had no idea the other two boys were going to burn the flag.

He had previously denied the charge but the court heard how this was because he was confused by the law.

Sasha Queffurus, defending, said her client had only pleaded not guilty as he was unclear what joint enterprise meant and that his father had told him what to say.

She added: "Seasoned barristers and lawyers struggle with joint enterprise so it's not surprising a 14-year-old boy does."

While sentencing Nigel Cox, chair of the bench, said: "You might not like the Union Flag but it's for our protection and benefit.

"The people of Borough Green are really fed up about this."

In addition to the order – that works in a similar way to a conditional discharge – he will have to pay £16.66 in compensation, £250 in legal costs and a £15 victim

surcharge.