More than 40 graves at Charlton Cemetery were knocked over, broken or had photographs removed on 17 March.

A jury at Inner London Crown Court, heard on Tuesday, the graves, all for Turkish Muslims, were targeted by the youths because of their religion.

The three youths, aged 14, 15 and 17, admit some criminal damage but deny the attack was religiously motivated.

There can be no question that the damage was deliberate...and aimed at a particular section of the community, graves of deceased Muslims Carl Hackman, prosecuting

Carl Hackman, prosecuting, said: "This case involves the deliberate and systematic desecration of gravestones belonging to certain members of the community, namely Muslims."

The court heard the three entered the cemetery in south-east London after employees had left for the day and then smashed and knocked over headstones.

A hammer was used to break pictures left on the graves in memory of loved ones, the court heard.

"These gravestones were the resting place of those devoted to the Islamic faith, in a particular section of the cemetery which was set aside for people of that faith," Mr Hackman said.

The jury was shown a 10-minute video of the damaged graves.

Mr Hackman said: "As you can see, there can be no question that the damage was deliberate and comprehensive and aimed at a particular section of the community, graves of deceased Muslims."