Public school students trash £2million Hampstead home in drug-fuelled party
Laughing gas cannisters and a plastic bag containing white powder were found in the house after the party held by public school boys. Picture: Nigel Sutton - Credit: Nigel Sutton
Public school students caused up to £15,000 of damage to a £2million Hampstead home during a drug-fuelled party that ended in clashes with police.
Builders were called in to repair £15,000 of damage after a drug-fuelled party held by public school boys at a house in Frognal, Hampstead. Picture: Nigel Sutton - Credit: Nigel Sutton
The owner of the house in Frognal told this week how she returned the next day to find the property trashed with evidence of drug use.
Builders were called in to repair £15,000 of damage after a drug-fuelled party held by public school boys at a house in Frognal, Hampstead. Picture: Nigel Sutton - Credit: Nigel Sutton
Scores of “laughing gas” canisters were strewn about the home, along with a small plastic bag filled with white powder.
The house had been rented for one night at a cost of £750 by pupils of some of north London’s most exclusive schools to celebrate the end of their exams.
As previously reported in the Ham&High, police shut down the out-of-control party before clashing with partygoers in the street, in scenes that witnesses likened to the 2011 London Riots.
The house owner, who was too embarrassed to be named, said: “I really didn’t expect any of this, they said it would just be a small sleepover.
“They were putting paint and petrol everywhere. They smashed an expensive granite sink, ripped up mahogany floorboards and they were flinging my crystal decanters around the place.
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“The kitchen knives were out – somebody could have been killed. It was like a looting in my own house.”
She spent three days cleaning up the mess after the party on Wednesday, June 5 and had to call in builders for extensive repair work. She estimates the cost at £10,000 to £15,000.
The party organisers paid £750 for the night after finding the house advertised on a short-term lets website. They paid upfront in cash and left few details.
“I want to warn people,” the owner said. “When you’re renting, even through an agency, you have to really get all the details of the people when you take them on. This could happen to anyone.”
The revellers left £480 cash for repairs on a table. Then in a bizarre twist, another boy who would not give his name turned up the next morning and handed over £3,000 cash.
But the money is not nearly enough to cover the repair bill.
The owner has criticised police for not taking the matter seriously enough.
She said: “There were drugs everywhere but the police aren’t helping, they say it’s just a civil matter.”
The case against a 17-year-old youth charged with a public order offence in connection with disorder in the street after the party was dropped yesterday (Wednesday). A 17-year-old youth and a 16-year-old have been bailed to return to police at a later date.
