Arson youths avoid custody

THREE youths convicted of arson and burglary have avoided custodial sentences.

The trio — two aged 15 and a 16 year old — were ordered by Oldham magistrates to pay a total of £826 in compensation to their victim and carry out youth rehabilitation orders (YROs).

The three, who can’t be named because of their ages, were found guilty at the end of February in a separate trial.

The chairman of the Bench, Byron Rowe, said they must be given the chance to make positive developments with their lives; time spent in custody would hinder this.

The court heard the three boys went to Manor Road in Shaw, on July 31 last year to meet a drug dealer to buy cannabis. Outside a house they found an open window and went inside, causing £400 worth of damage.

They stole no but lit a petrol can, which they left on the roof of the house’s conservatory, causing another £5,000 worth of damage. The mother of one of the 15 year olds will pay £500 in compensation to the owner of the house, as her son has no income.

The 16 year old will pay £386 in compensation to the owner of the house from income support.

The two boys also received 12-month YROs and curfews between 9pm and 7am.

The other 15 year old, who also faced charges of criminal damage and assault, was given an 18-month YRO, a curfew between 7pm-7am, but wasn’t ordered to pay compensation. He committed the crimes while on a previous court order for similar offences last May.