A TEENAGE arsonist has been sentenced for an attack last month on a minibus compound on the Silk Mills park and ride site, in Taunton.

The youngster caused hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage when he destroyed or damaged seven Somerset Council minibuses in the fire attack, which happened on Saturday, April 26.

The previous day he had torched an Audi car parked on the site.

The 17-year-old, who is from Taunton, was arrested on Sunday, April 27, after a further incident in which a group of people were involved in a fight, two more cars were damaged, and an emergency worker was attacked.

The youth, who cannot be named because the law protects the identity of criminals aged under 18 years, appeared in Exeter Magistrates Court for sentencing on Thursday (May 29)

He admitted six offences over the three days April 25 to 27 and was ordered to serve two years in juvenile detention and made subject to a training order.

Magistrates also ordered him to pay £600 compensation to the victims whose vehicles were damaged.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary Det Sgt William Instance said after the case: “The damage caused to the minibuses was huge and has had a significant impact on the local community.

“An arrest was made the day after the fire and a thorough investigation has led to this conviction.”

The six accusations against the teenager, who has since turned 18, were:

• Two counts of arson, both at Silk Mills Park and Ride, namely to an Audi A1 and the minibuses

• Affray

• Criminal damage to two cars

• Assault by beating an emergency worker

The seven minibuses had been specially adapted for use by people with disabilities and by schoolchildren, but the council managed to make alternative arrangements for services to operate as normal on the Monday after the attack.