Four teenage boys were filmed stamping and kicking flowers in Sutton Coldfield town centre near the Gracechurch Shopping Centre around noon on Sunday, July 26. The 13-second footage shows the boys, aged between 12 and 15 and wearing tracksuits, laughing as they destroyed the flower bed beside the new Harvey Norman store.
Bystanders could be heard pleading with them to stop. The video was recorded by Adam Kimber, 36, who said the group had first tried to smash glass panes at a nearby bus stop before turning on the flower bed.
Police called but vandalism resumed
West Midlands Police officers arrived quickly and spoke to the youngsters, who scattered. However, they allegedly resumed their destruction once police left.
Kimber said: "They looked so happy doing it, laughing to each other... They were kicking them for a couple of minutes when the police arrived and told them to stop. They scattered but as soon as they left they continued."
He expressed shock at the behaviour, saying: "I grew up being told to say 'please' and 'thank you' and to show respect. You wouldn't dare doing something like this. If you did you would get a clip on the ear."
Outrage on social media
The footage sparked fury online, with many condemning the vandals. Adam Kimber, who is unemployed, noted it was only the first weeks of the summer holidays and questioned how much worse it could get.
West Midlands Police and Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield Town Council were contacted for comment.
