A Ringwood antique dealer is furious after hearing a youth who damaged a landmark Georgian bow window at her shop has been let off with a caution.

The Georgian bow window at Tarrant Antiques in Ringwood’s conservation area was smashed during a Saturday night scuffle.

When told the 18-year-old responsible had been freed with a caution proprietor Lorraine Tarrant said: “You must be joking.

“He’s absolutely destroyed a piece of Ringwood history and he’s destroyed a whole week’s business takings. That’s just not right.

“It’s taken me a whole day to clean up the glass.

“I would like to find out who’s responsible. I think it’s the limit.

“What is this country coming to if you just let somebody walk away from causing so much damage, so much devastation?”

Insp James Douglas said the youth was taken to Lyndhurst police station and “admitted the assault during which the damage was caused to the window”.

“Acting on CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] advice and guidelines the man was given a formal police caution for this incident,” he said.

He said there will continue to be a high police presence to deter violent behaviour as part of Operation Denver.

Mrs Tarrant was called out to her Market Place business at 11.30pm on Saturday, December 18. “I literally broke down in tears when I saw it because it’s devastating to see such a beautiful landmark destroyed,” she said. The window, dating from about 1750, was insured but is expected to cost £15,000-plus to repair because it needs to be hand built.

Ringwood Society chairman Geoff Wickens, said: “I’m horrified that some yob has done this and hope that they are proud of themselves; and I wish they could be made to pay for it.”