A teenager who stole a car and then demolished an historic village monument has been sentenced to two years three months youth custody.

Benjamin Pell caused £10,000 of damage to the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Memorial in Teynham, near Sittingbourne, and a further £50,000 to cars and other buildings.

A judge told Pell and his 16-year-old passenger, who cannot be identified: "Both of you are lucky to be alive today."

Pell, of Cuthbert Road, Westgate, admitted burglary and dangerous driving and asked for seven burglaries to be taken into consideration. He was banned from driving for two years.

His co-accused, of Camberwell, south east London, admitted burglary and aggravated allowing himself to be carried in the car.

He was sentenced to 18 months detention and training.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the pair broke into a house in Kingsnorth Road, Faversham, in the early hours of November 18 while it was occupied by owner Paul Wills.

He awoke to find computer equipment and games missing, along with his Ford Focus car that had been parked outside.

Less than an hour earlier, police officers saw the car heading towards Ospringe and gave chase at speeds of between 50mph and 90mph.

The car eventually crashed into four vehicles parked in London Road, Teynham, and hurtled into the memorial, built in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s 60th year on the throne.

Caroline Knight, prosecuting, said it would cost more than £25,000 to restore. The Focus, worth £10,000, was also destroyed.

Judge Philip Statman said it was "pretty dreadful" for a householder to find his home had been burgled and his car stolen.

"This is a terrible case of dangerous driving," he said.