Youth admits arson at scout camp

Press, 9 October 1987, Page 9

Youth admits arson at scout camp

PA Timaru An unemployed Ashburton youth, aged 18, who set fire to a scout camp’s bunkroom was motivated by a television programme on the Ruatoria fires, the District Court at Timaru was told. The youth pleaded guilty to arson, burglary, wilful damage and attempted arson. The Incident occurred at the Raincliff Scout Camp on September 7 and caused damage estimated at $25,000. Judge Hay committed the defendant to the High Court at Christchurch for sentence on October 21 and called for probation and reparation reports. He remanded him back to Sunnyside Hospital in the meantime. He refused an application by defence counsel, Mr Norman Scott, for continued suppression of name. His decision was appealed. There is interim suppression pending determination of the appeal. The youth admitted wilfully setting fire to the bunkroom, 'breaking and entering the Baptist Church at Ashburton, attempting to set fire to the church and wilfully damaging windows of St David’s Church at Raincliff. Sergeant John Laredo said the youth admitted the facts, saying he wanted to break the win-

dows "for the fun of it.’’ “He also said he lit the fire because he had seen the news on television about Ruatoria “and they got away with it." “Also, he was angry and lighting fires relieved the anger." The bunkroom was destroyed, Mr Laredo said. “About 4.30 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, he went to the Baptist Church in Ashburton. “He went into the kitchen area and found some rags hanging on a hook. He turned on the elements on the stove and placed the rags on the elements. “On Friday, August 28, he went to the police station and made a full and frank admission regarding these offences. “In explanation, he said he had broken into the building and put rags on the stove to start a fire, as he had seen a television programme about fires at Ruatoria and thought that if they could get away with it, why couldn’t he. “He said he was letting off steam because he couldn’t get on to a local works scheme,” Mr Laredo said.