Girl of 13 admits to arson at flat
A GIRL of 13 set fire to curtains in a Spalding flat and, as the fire spread, neighbours from the block were evacuated from their homes by her friends.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was with friends at 1am on January 5 and was flicking a lighter when a male in the party said: “Go on I dare you, set fire to the curtains”.
At yesterday’s Spalding Youth Court the girl admitted arson, unlawfully damaging property and being reckless as to whether the life of another would be endangered.
The court heard the mother was elsewhere at the time.
Magistrates considered making a parenting order because they held her mother responsible although the girl lit the fire. But no order was made after the mother told the youth offending team she was willing to attend sessions voluntarily.
The court gave the girl a year-long referral order.
Presiding magistrate Jane Tidswell said the girl will meet a panel of people who will draw up a contract to stop her behaving in this way again – and, if she breaks the terms of the contract, she can be brought before the court and sentenced in a different way.
Mrs Tidswell told the girl: “The charge of arson is exceptionally serious and I think by your behaviour this morning you have come to realise you could have endangered a lot of lives living in the whole area of the block of flats.”
Deborah Cartwright, prosecuting, said emergency services were called to the flats just after 1am and fire crews put out the blaze. She said the fire took hold quickly. The girl left to go to her mother’s boyfriend’s address and the other young people present decided to wake neighbours.
Solicitor Rachel Stevens said the teenager set the curtains alight after a dare and believed the fire had fizzled out when she left with friends.
Miss Stevens said: “They looked back and the curtains were very much alight. To this moment she is really unable to account for what came over her.”
The court made no order for compensation because of the mother’s limited means.
Repairs to the flat cost £1,595.27.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 5 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
sweep63
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 12:28 PMThe 13 year old girl and her mother should both be held responsible, if there there are no real consequences, financial or otherwise for this crime, what is going to stop her from offending again. Why should we foot the bill for this mothers complete disregard for teaching her daughter right from wrong? . Why is a 13 year old girl left without parental supervision in a property at night?, Surely some sort of care order should be put in place. This child needs help now so she can hopefully become a decent member of society, unlike her mother.
Lazy Daisy
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 07:26 AMIt sounds as if this child has not reached the stage of maturity where she realises that her actions will have consequences so she needs adult supervision 24-7 like a toddler.
HollygoLula
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:15 AMAaaw, bless, it was all the fault of the company who made the matches...they're too easy to light............no, it was the shopkeeper who sold them to someone under 16, lets ruin his life and fine him and take away his shop.............no hang on, its the schools fault, they've let this girl down.............NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, ITS THE 13 YEAR OLD GIRLS FAULT, SO SHE SHOULD PAY THE PENALTY!!!!! WHEN WILL GOVERNMENTS AND DEFENCE SOLICITORS GET THIS!!!!!!!
poohbearlou
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:05 AMAt 13 years old, if the girl thinks it's normal behaviour to set fire to her own home and potentially endanger the lives of other residents in the area, she should have been punished a lot more severely. Although, I'd wonder if she's in need of some sort of medical help rather than a court punishment. That said, I'm not entirely convinced that the fire really was a dare, because it was very quickly and conveniently used as an excuse for the girl and her mother to move in with the mother's boyfriend. I wonder who pays the bill for repairs to the council flat totalling almost £1600, because having destroyed one council property, the girl and her mother have moved out of a top floor flat and into a 3 bedroomed house also belonging to the council - with another council tenant. SHDC Housing management have been approached about that and didn't appear to be the slightest bit interested. So if you purposely destroy one council property, it's ok to live in another is it? As for the court making no order for compensation because of the mother's limited means, I should hope not! Compensation from whom exactly? A 13 year old girl purposely set fire to her own home. We're in a recession - most of us have limited means these days after we've paid our bills, well at least those of us who bother doing so. If we could get compensation for setting fire to our own homes because of limited means, I expect a lot of people would be doing it!
mavrick
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 07:55 PMmay i say at the age of 13 she should no right from wrong its a good job her mates didn't dare he to go stand in the middle of the M6.!!! ALSO her mother having to go to voluntary sessions what for being a parent ??. my mum and dad did not have to do this, also i brought my children up knowing right from wrong and as for putting other peoples lives in danger and just getting a smack on the wrists there is no wonder we have a lot of delinquents not just in this town but in this country IT'S ABOUT TIME THAY STARTED GETTING PUNISHED FOR WHAT THEY DO
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