TWO teenagers have admitted causing criminal damage to a shop in Chester’s Grosvenor Shopping Centre.

Benjamin Bujor, 18 and Fernando Costea, 19, committed the offence at Western Computers in the precinct on December 12.

They both pleaded guilty when they appeared at Chester Magistrates Court.

Nicola Parr, prosecuting said the duo, both from Liverpool, damaged security clamps and a table at the store while Bujor also admitted to stealing an iPhone worth more than £1,000 which was later recovered.

Mark Evans, defending Bujor, said: “He’s not long turned 18.

“Mr Bujor has been in the country on and off since 2018, and he has no finance whatsoever.

Mr Evans added that Bujor has been sofa-surfing and that lack of finance is behind his offending.

Costea, defending himself, told the court he had no money. He was given a 12 month conditional discharge and told to pay £400 in compensation, meaning no court costs were awarded.

Bujor was given a 15 month community order under which he will have to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

He will also pay £120 court costs and a £114 victim surcharge.