Teen sentenced for smashing shop window and setting fire to toilets

Wednesday 17 April 2024

A teenager who smashed a shop window by throwing a traffic cone through it, and started a fire in public toilets less than a week later, has been given a six-month probation order.

The child, who cannot be named due to his age, smashed the window of a town shop in the early hours – only days after a previous probation order had been imposed.

The Youth Court heard that he missed his first probation meeting later that morning because he had a hangover, having been drunk at the time of the incident.

Then, five days later, the youth started a fire by setting fire to paper in the toilets at Liberation Station.

Legal adviser Samantha Morris, prosecuting, said the fire had been "readily put out".

She added: "He has a number of offences on his record."

He admitted the charges of malicious damage and arson.

The Magistrate, Bridget Shaw, imposed the new probation order and told him: "You need to take some responsibility."

She also told his father to pay £150 towards the cost of repairing the window.