Young arsonist has long record

Press, 1 June 1984, Page 12

Young arsonist has long record

PA Auckland An arsonist, aged 12, began lighting fires when he was seven, the Children and Young Persons Court at Henderson has heard. The police had laid a complaint against the boy’s mother, citing section 27 of the Children and Young Persons Act which allows for a hearing should the police believe a child is in need of care or protection. The boy’s record of repeated arsons since 1978 was read out in court before Judge Brown. The police prosecutor, Sergeant John Ponsford, said the boy had been responsible for a fire at Te

Atatu Rugby Club in 1978, fires in a classroom and gymnasium at Liston College in Henderson last year, and a further fire at the college last month. Mr John Carroll, deputy principal of Liston College, said that damage from the last fire had been estimated as high as 5250,000. The boy had also stolen 5180 from an Avondale home last year and had run away twice in the last 12 months. Judge Brown remanded the case to June 13 pending a psychological report on the boy who will be kept in Social Welfare custody.