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Teenage arsonist threw firework
The Douglas Bank in Springfield
A WIGAN teenager has been convicted of arson after throwing a firework through a pub window.
Christopher Cross pleaded guilty at Wigan Magistrates’ Court after being caught on CCTV throwing the firework into the Douglas Bank pub on Woodhouse Lane.
The 18-year-old, from Borrrowbeck Close, Platt Bridge, admitted causing fire and smoke damage to the pub at 2.45am on Saturday, February 5 this year.
The court heard how the landlord of the Douglas Bank, Stephen Dartnell, heard a loud noise from their flat above the pub in the early hours. He and his partner thought it was something outside but on finding nothing, they went down to find the bar area filled with smoke. The window he threw the firework through was already broken from a previous incident.
Police were able to identify Cross on reviewing the pubs CCTV system and he was arrested the same day at 5pm.
The firework caused fire damage to a window frame as well as smoke damge to the bar area.
Colin Rawson, defending, said: “When you see the charge arson, you associate it with a planned act of setting fire to things with petrol and a lighter.
“In this case it is clearly minor damage caused by a firework, thrown through a pub window, when the pub was clearly vacant.
“He (Cross) bears no grudge against the pub landlord and put it solely down to the amount of alcohol he consumed previous to the incident occurring. He admitted it to Police immediately.”
Cross was sentenced to a six month, 30 hour community order, in which he must attend Bolton Senior Attendance Centre. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £300 and costs of £40.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 9 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
busdriver
Friday, February 25, 2011 at 09:24 PM6 stevie it is the crown prosecution service you have a complaint against not the police. they should have argued that the case was too serious for a magistrates court. they are on the 2nd floor at robin park police station.
The Thing
Friday, February 25, 2011 at 07:58 PMIs 30 hours community service a misprint? You get more than that for swearing in public. Stevie051 you should take this further. It is possible to appeal and get a sentence increased.
Peawapp
Friday, February 25, 2011 at 03:52 PMJoke of a sentence. They will only act when the scrote seriously hurts or kills someone and even then you will have some PC guru claiming it was all because he was from a broken home.
stevie051
Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 07:27 PMfirst of all being the landlord in this piece i don't know whether to laugh or cry at the justice system, police communication or the defense. 1 this lad did have a problem with me as he openly told one of the barmaids that "I will get him" after being refused service at the bar for no proof of age, but was she asked........let me answer for you NO 2 police never informed us when court date was or whether we wish to give VITAL evidence. which means this is the first we have heard of the outcome.... but i will come back to that. 3. The defense have openly LIED yes and i will back this up Mr Rawson. The property was occupied by myself, my girlfriend and 2 kids who where upstairs when the firework was not thrown at the window, but when Chris Cross walked up to the window put his hand and arm through the broken pane and then let go of the lit fire work to make sure it was inside the building..... there is a big difference he wanted to burn my family in their beds. and finally 30 hours and 6 months suspended is an absolute insult to me and my family and a joke, because if I had exacted my own justice on this lowlife no doubt my punishment would have been greater. Time and time again I have been attacked in my job and every time the criminal goes pretty much unpunished, like trucker99 says ....crime does pay.
stevie051
Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 06:49 PMfirst of all being the landlord in this piece i don't know whether to laugh or cry at the justice system, police communication or the defense. 1 this lad did have a problem with me as he openly told one of the barmaids that "I will get him" after being refused service at the bar for no proof of age, but was she asked........let me answer for you NO 2 police never informed us when court date was or whether we wish to give VITAL evidence. which means this is the first we have heard of the outcome.... but i will come back to that. 3. The defense have openly LIED yes and i will back this up Mr Rawson. The property was occupied by myself, my girlfriend and 2 kids who where upstairs when the firework was not thrown at the window, but when Chris Cross walked up to the window put his hand and arm through the broken pane and then let go of the lit fire work to make sure it was inside the building..... there is a big difference he wanted to burn my family in their beds. and finally 30 hours and 6 months suspended is an absolute insult to me and my family and a joke, because if I had exacted my own justice on this lowlife no doubt my punishment would have been greater. Time and time again I have been attacked in my job and every time the criminal goes pretty much unpunished, like trucker99 says ....crime does pay.
busdriver
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 05:16 PMdisgraceful sentence, this case should have been refered to the crown court for a prison sentence. there were 2 people upstairs, probably asleep, that could have been killed by the maniac.
greenfingers
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 04:49 PMShould had a rocket inserted were the sun dont shine,he could have killed the couple ,should defnitley have got a prison sentence.
Trucker99
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 02:29 PMThe way british justic is working .I think we will have to rewrite the old saying .....................Crime does pay with the justic system we have now
sickofitall
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 12:34 PMAlcohol again, and a pure case of Arson with INTENT, he gets a six month 30 hour community order !!! HAW HAW Good ole' British justice, could you ever expect anything that may even resemble punishment ?
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