Samantha, who declined to be identified by her real name due to safety concerns, was left fuming after the 17-year-old was given a 15-month jail term and ordered to pay $600 compensation for the damage he caused when he stole her taxi and set it alight.

The maximum restitution that can be awarded in the children’s court is $1000.

RELATED: He did $28,000 damage but compo bill just $600

Samantha said “the little jerk” had destroyed the taxi, with only its front number plate salvageable and it was no comfort to receive $600.

“That’s quite pathetic — if they allowed $1000 for the damage he did to my business, it’s the least I should get,” she said.

“It cost $28,000 to set up again. Not everyone can do that.

“It was very distressing at the time and it still gets me wound up.

“These people just do not care about anybody or anything.

“That could have destroyed me and my business.

“It’s just heartbreaking that people keep doing these things.”

Albury Taxis boss Tim O’Dea agreed with Samantha on compensation, saying he “didn’t think it was fair”.

“He should have been given the maximum penalty allowable by the courts,” Mr O’Dea said.

Samantha said her Ford Falcon station wagon taxi had been insured but she still faced $10,000 costs to replace it with a new cab containing expensive gear such as a radio computer despatch system ($3000) and surveillance camera ($3500).

She said she had been without a taxi for 2½ weeks and that had cost her income of about $10,000.

Four drivers also lost money with the taxi torched,

Samantha said the driver who was the victim of the theft in October had returned to the industry, despite the drama.

“About 95 per cent of people who use cabs are very decent people and use them for all the right reasons,” Samantha, who has nearly 20 years experience in the industry, said.

“But then you just get these horrible people who are out there to destroy anybody’s property, whether it’s my car or your house.”