Accidental damage to campervan

[porshe04]

I’d be grateful for some advice from anyone who can spare me the time.
My 18 year old son and some friends had a night away recently in the campervan of one of his friends parents. A window was opened several times by various boys, my son then opened it and it fell out. My sons was originally being asked to pay £1000 by the campervan owner, it’s a 51 plate and the window is hard to source and then there is fitting included in the amount.
I don’t feel it’s his responsibility to pay this nor can he afford to, he starts his first year at Uni next week.
We have received 2 letters from the owner, the last says he’ll accept £355 or take my son to the small claims court.
My son has written and offered to contribute a small amount if the other boys do as a gesture of goodwill but this has been ignored.
I feel that if someone opened my car door and it fell off I couldn’t possibly ask them to pay for a replacement but this is pretty much what is happening here.
My son of course is beside himself with worry but I really don’t feel he should take the blame for what is a 19 year old campervan that
is used regularly by groups of boys.
Thanks so much if you got this far.

[ostell]

I'd let him follow up on the SCC. I doubt if a judge would agree to such a large charge

[porshe04]

Thanks for the reply, I’m thinking the same.

[des8]

presumably the window fell out as it was old and worn.
Charging the poor sod who was last to touch it is like lending an old car to a mate and charging him for a replacement clutch because it gave up the ghost while he was driving it.
I'd be telling him to jog on!

[porshe04]

Really appreciate your reply, I completely agree.