A TEENAGER who was part of a trio who cut live lizard in half, ransacked a charity-run farm and left a chilling note to volunteers been sentenced.

The group broke in to Brooks Farm in Leyton which is run by the East London branch of the YMCA three times in September and October.

They hacked off the lizard’s tail with a knife, killing it on their third break-in, ransacked the farm and wrote ‘WE AR BACK’ on a door.

The final teenager in the group, a 14-year-old boy was sentenced at Stratford Youth Court for burglary and for causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal on Wednesday (November 18)

He was sentenced to a one-year youth rehabilitation and supervision order after pleading guilty to three counts of burglary and harming the lizard.

The sentence also excludes him from entering Brooks Farm, Leyton, for three months.

Every incident was captured on CCTV from the farm and viewed by officers from Waltham Forest CID.

The boys gained entry to the property by climbing over the front gate and one was seen to force the door open.

On 11 October the third boy was seen with a large knife to cut off a gecko's tail and then throw it onto the roof.

A millipede was also missing from a tank in the office and all the turtles' food was emptied into their tank.

All the buildings were trashed during the burglaries and a car was also damaged.

The boys forced entry into two outbuildings and used keys to open a snack hut.

'WE AR BACK' was found written in ice cream on the glass doors of the hut.

A 15-year-old boy was sentenced on at Stratford Youth Court on October 13 after he pleaded guilty.

He was sentenced to four six months referral orders, to run at the same time, and to pay £85 costs and £15 Victim Surcharge.

PC Paul Richardson, from Waltham Forest CID, said: "The damage to the community farm and the cruelty to the animals were serious offences which not only caused anxiety to those working at the farm but also to the local community."

The break-ins cost the charity thousands and caused distress to animals.

Walthamstow shopping centre, The Mall, raised £1,500 to donate to them.