Latics arson ‘an act of stupidity’

ARSON attack... the damage caused by the teenagers at Boundary Park

TWO teenagers with “enormous potential” admitted starting a blaze which caused nearly £70,000 damage at Oldham Athletic.

The pair were aged 15 and 16 when they broke into Boundary Park and set fire to a stack of chairs covered in plastic while “messing around” in what the court heard was an act of stupidity.

It spread rapidly, ripping through a hospitality suite and wheelchair section at the ground. The boys, who both want to join the Army, pleaded guilty to arson at Oldham Youth Court yesterday.

Roger Woods, prosecuting, said the boys, now aged 16 and 17, were captured on CCTV climbing the perimeter wall at Boundary Park at around 5.15pm on August 22 last year.

He told the court: “They walk towards the hospitality area. They stayed in that area until just after 5.30 and are seen to leave abruptly.

“Both boys are seen to go back towards the gate and climb over. Within minutes, a very short time, smoke is seen to come from the premises.”

Dr Woods said that a 999 call at 5.45pm was made on the 16-year-old’s phone and added: “The fire spread quickly and took hold quickly.”

Both boys initially told the police that they were not involved. The 16-year-old said he was on his own when he saw the fire and called the emergency services. He also told the police that he could remember two Asian lads in the area at the time. His accomplice said he was out with a friend all day.

The blaze caused £68,926 damage, including the destruction of a £700 roof in the wheelchair section which one disabled fan had paid for herself. It also cost the club £21,339 in lost hospitality revenue and other expenses.

The 17-year-old’s DNA was also linked to a burglary at St Matthew’s Church, Chadderton, in November 2009. He was sentenced to a six month referral order in March 2011 for that offence.

Graham Whittingham, defending, said that his client had achieved nine GCSEs and was at sixth form.

“He had a very bright future, very bright academically. His parents are extremely distressed that that may be at risk.”

Nicky Hall, defending the 16-year-old, said the boys had gone to Boundary Park to “look around” after hearing that there was a Ferrari tractor there.

She said her client, who had not been in trouble before, was predicted to get top GCSEs and was working hard to put “one instance of stupidity behind him”.

He also wanted to join the Army, she said, and she added: “He is a young man who has an enormous number of qualities. His one sin, if it was that, was following, going into the football ground and being silly, and for being silly his family have been devastated and he has been devastated.”

Judge James Prowse said that the pair, who had enormous potential, had been messing around when they inadvertently caused the fire which ballooned out of control.

“You are both lucky that you came out of this unscathed. You could have both gone up in that fire. I do not know what on earth was going though your minds at that time,” he said.

He sentenced the 16-year-old to an 11-month referral order. The 17-year-old received a 12-month rehabilitation order which includes supervision and 200 hours unpaid work. Both of their families will have to pay £250 costs.

The 17-year-old was also committed to Crown Court on separate charges of robbery and handling stolen goods.

An application by the Chronicle and other media to lift restriction orders on naming the boys was rejected.