Three men who used bolt cutters to get a padlock off a gate at a park have admitted criminal damage and been ordered to pay compensation.

Police were called to Rainham Recreation Ground in Station Road, Rainham, at 11.19pm on Thursday, July 27, after the lock, which belonged to Medway Council, was removed from the gate.

Officers received reports a group of men were seen in a vehicle near the park with bolt cutters and had been trying to remove the lock.

When police arrived five men were in the vehicle and three of them were later charged with criminal damage in connection with the broken padlock.

In total, there was about £250 of damage.

Francis Cleary, of County Limerick, Ireland, and Connie Delaney, of Waterford, County Galway, Ireland, and Thomas McGinley, of Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland, were charged.

They appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court on August 30 and all admitted the criminal damage.

Cleary, 49, was given a nine-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay costs of £25, a victim surcharge of £26 and £80 compensation to Medway Council.

Delaney, 42, was given a six-month conditional discharge and was also ordered to pay £80 compensation to the council.

McGinley, 20, was also placed on a six-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £26 as well as £80 compensation to the council.