Taxi Driver Online

Teenage arsonist who set fire to a taxi, three buses and a lorry detained for four years



A teenage arsonist who caused a £700,000 blaze for a "thrill" on his 15th birthday has been sentenced to four years detention at Cardiff Crown Court.

Schoolboy James Proctor started two arson attacks in the first three hours of his birthday after having "fantasies" over seeing vehicles on fire.

Proctor used a cigarette lighter to set fire to a taxi parked in the street just after midnight - and watched it burn.

Then he sneaked into the Newport Transport depot on Corporation Road in Maindee, Newport, to use paper dowsed with fuel to torch three commuter buses and a lorry.

Prosecutor John Probert said: "He started two fires between 1am and 3am on the morning of December 3 which was his birthday.

"A Peugeot Expert taxi worth £8,000 was set on fire before he went to the bus depot at around 3am.

"Proctor destroyed three buses and a lorry worth a total of £503,000.

"There was damage to a building at the depot and estimates put the total damage at around £700,000.

"A block of 12 flats nearby also had to be evacuated as the flames were licking above the depot."

Proctor, 15, fled from the Newport Transport depot in Newport, South Wales, but was spotted by a police officer.

Mr Probert said: "A cigarette lighter was found in his waistband but he denied starting the fire."

Cardiff Crown Court heard Proctor blamed a former schoolfriend for starting the fire. But

police inquiries revealed the boy was "tucked up in bed in Bristol".

CCTV footage showed Proctor at the depot where two single deckers, a double decker and a training vehicle were destroyed.

The court heard Proctor had been on medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder since the age of just five.

Stephen Thomas, defending, said: "He is a significantly troubled young man and had been consuming alcohol and smoking cannabis.

"He thinks about what he did every day and he won't be drinking any more."

Judge Neil Bidder QC lifted restrictions to allow Proctor to be named and shamed for his crimes.

He said: "You have admitted you have fantasies about fire and you have lit fires in the past.

"You committed this offence for the thrill of it."

Proctor, of Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire, was sentenced to four years youth detention after admitting two counts of arson and being reckless in endangering lives.


Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales ... z2NdRhkj2D

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Leroys coming to get you, don't drop the soap in the showers.

Shouldn't they just send him to one of those Scottish Isles.

By all accounts they know how to arrange a bonfire.

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IDFIMH

Do they dance round them in funny robes?

If you can join all his plucks with a felt pen whats the prize, (for all our English viewers thats dot to dot)

A voucher for 25% off your next pack of felt pens

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

He's got eyes like Ian Brady I dread to think what this individual will be like after 4 years inside

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector