10 year old boy charged with criminal damage after arson attack

A 10 year old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with criminal damage after causing £100,000 worth of damage at a college chapel.

The boy is one of the youngest people in Plymouth to have a criminal record.

Two older boys were given 12-month Youth Referral Orders and put on three-month curfews. Their families were each ordered to pay £1,000 compensation.

The boy admitted going into the chapel and setting light to tissue paper and setting ‘matchbombs’ – firecrackers made from match heads and a matchbox. He also admitted criminal damage to a fire extinguisher in the build-up to the blaze.

The boy’s father said: “He was with the wrong people at the wrong time. It is no excuse. We have tried to bring him up to do the right thing, but he has done a big wrong. He has suffered and we have suffered. Hopefully this will be the last time you see him in front of a court. This has been a big learning curve. We feel sorry for everyone involved. It has been an absolute nightmare for us, it really has.”

Presiding magistrate, Mr David Watson said: “You realise what a serious offence this is and the pain you have caused to your parents and a lot of other people. It is good to hear your parents do not want to see you back in court. Take what has been offered to you and learn from it and let’s hope we never see you again.”