The young thugs wrote off businessman Robert Cairns' work vans and forced him out of his premises.

They also destroyed his personal possessions, his children's toys and photographs of his war hero father.

Then they plundered family heirlooms being stored as his mother lay seriously ill in hospital. She died before her son had to break the devastating news to her about what had happened.

Now, as part of the four youths' community punishment, Mr Cairns must sit in a room with the very same boys so that they can get a feel for the impact their crimes have had on him.

The parents of the yobs also have to pay Mr Cairns £350 compensation – a tiny fraction of what he has lost.

The father-of-three built up his Car Fix vehicle painting and repair business over eight years and had been based at the largely derelict Club Street Mill in Bamber Bridge for the last four years.

But when a local tearaway broke into the mill and dropped through the mezzanine roof into Mr Cairns' unit one weekend in September, all his hard work was about to be ruined.

Mr Cairns, 48, said: "The gang spent two days over a weekend throwing paint around and smashing up anything in sight. They plugged in a grinder and set about everything within reach of the flex.

"The first lad had such a good time on the Saturday, he brought his three mates back with him on the Sunday.

"I had to let my young employee go and the unit go because I couldn't continue to pay the rent. The business will recover, but the insurance won't cover it."

At South Ribble Magistrates Court, the four youths were all given nine-month youth referral contracts.

Their victim added: "Now I'm expected to go to court as part of their reparation.

"I get to sit there face-to-face with these boys and say how I feel and how this has affected me – all so they can get a feel for the gravity of what they've done to me."

The mother of two of the boys, from Leyland, said: "They've done wrong and have to pay for what they've done. What's happened has happened and that's all I'll say."

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