Whilst I agree a £500 fine isn't much compared to the many thousands of pounds of damage caused, I think it's reasonable and people need to look at it with some perspective.
The court could fine them the total cost of the damage caused but how could teenage boys ever pay it back?
Better a Student loan style debt, or lifelong indenture to network rail - although that second is a bit extreme.
2 years penal service to the train enthusiasts club, sounds better - like an apprenticeship but in real chains
STill what happened to the damn ball? it was guilty to! What did they do to it?
Did they leave it in a 'no ball games' purgatory? Hah. bet it was just let go, probably did not feel any remorse, gloating and over inflated somewhere plotting its next vandalism.