Police prosecuted a man for throwing paint over a carpet, 10 years after the offence which he committed aged 12.

Lewis Graham, now 22, was asked by Essex police to attend a voluntary interview in March after his DNA or fingerprints were found to match those recovered from the scene of the crime in 2009.

A property in a suburb of Southend-on-Sea was undergoing refurbishment when it was broken into and paint spread across the walls and carpet.

Mr Graham admitted causing £400 worth of damage to the property during the interview, including spelling out his name in the paint.

Police issued him with a caution, instructed him to go on a victim awareness course and pay £80 in costs.

But he believed this was “stupid” because the offence occured so long ago and chose not to attend, Southend Magistrates heard this week.

The police then charged him with criminal damage.

In a statement, Essex police said: “A criminal investigation is never closed until the offender has been brought to justice and regardless of the amount of time which has passed, we will always act upon information received to find the person responsible.”=

Appearing in court, Mr Graham, of Southend-on-Sea, pleaded guilty to the offence.