MySpace invaders trash second home to tune of £30,000

An estimated 200 yobs ran amok at the detached property causing £30,000 of damage.

They daubed paint and graffiti on the walls, smashed windows, destroyed appliances, tore up floorboards, wrecked lights and beds and burned holes in carpets, chairs, mattresses and ceilings.

A partygoer told police he had organised the event using the website MySpace after noticing the £800,000 house was empty.

The owners had redecorated the property in Croydon, South London, then moved out ahead of letting it.

Last week, a teenager was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after her family's £230,000 home near Sunderland was wrecked during a 'Skins' party.

Rachael Bell, 17, had also advertised the event on MySpace. Skins is a Channel 4 series in which teenagers behave appallingly.

Workmen were yesterday assessing the damage to Nanu and Vaishali Patel's Croydon property.

Mrs Patel, 47, who runs a convenience store with her 58-year-old husband, said the incident- which took place ten days ago - had left her unable to sleep.

"The first we heard was when a neighbour called and said lots of lights were on in the house and people were milling around in the garden," she said.

'We called the police straight away. We live about an hour away and by the time we turned up there were three police cars and hundreds of kids coming out the house.

"When I saw the damage I was shocked. The whole house was ruined.

"If someone tells you there has been a break-in you expect a window to be broken and something to be missing, nothing can prepare you for complete and utter destruction.

"It's just mindless destruction, disgusting isn't the word, there is just no reason to do this."

The partygoers wrecked every room in the house, using bright red and blue paint to daub obscenities and other slogans on the walls.

Scores of empty beer cans were found throughout the house as well as the remnants of cannabis joints.

Mr Patel, who has moved with his wife to Wanstead in East London, said: "It's a homeowner's worst nightmare.

"They have caused £30,000 of damage. All the furniture was smashed to pieces.

"We even found a bed had been thrown out of the first-floor window into the back garden. We have already filled up two skips with destroyed furniture.

"These youngsters acted like animals, I just can't understand it."

Neighbours said taxis were taking teenagers to the house throughout the evening.

One 72-year-old resident said: "If they had been left to carry on the damage would have been far worse. This kind of behaviour is disgusting."