A BOY who started a £50,000 blaze which spread to three flats being built in an Angus town was ordered to be detained for two years yesterday.

His mother broke down and sobbed as the troubled 13-year-old was sentenced to youth custody at Forfar Sheriff Court.

The youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, earlier admitted on indictment culpably and recklessly setting fire to a roll of insulation at Queen’s Park, Brechin, on March 31—the fire then sweeping through three flats being built, causing extensive damage.

Depute fiscal Donna Brown told the court how the boy, who appeared from custody at Rossie Secure Unit, Montrose, had warned his aunt on Saturday afternoon about what he was going to do.

“While they chatted, he told her out of the blue he was off to start a fire,” explained the fiscal.

The court heard the boy left her house and went to the nearby building site, gaining entry under a section of security fencing, before going to one of the flats under construction.

Mrs Brown said the flat was being used for storing building materials, mostly a number of rolls of loft insulation.

She added, “He took a lighter from his pocket and set alight one of the rolls of insulation.

“It appears he tried his best to put the fire out, but obviously given the nature of the insulation we are talking about, it goes up very quickly.”

The fiscal said the boy panicked and ran off, but dialled 999 and told the fire brigade of the incident.

Within minutes a passer-by spotted flames and smoke coming from the building, prompting other emergency calls to be made.

Three fire units attended and around 20 firefighters were involved in controlling and extinguishing the blaze.

Mrs Brown said the fire took hold “very quickly” and the smoke was so bad a road next to the building site had to be closed during the operation to tackle it.

The seat of the fire was a roll of insulation in one of the flats, said the fiscal.

She continued, “Thankfully no-one was injured as a result of this fire.”

The fiscal said the boy’s aunt saw the fire and because of the earlier discussion she had had with her nephew, asked if he started it.

The boy admitted he was responsible and was told by the aunt and his mother to tell police he was the culprit.

Mrs Brown said, “It was obvious very quickly he realised what he had done was very stupid.

“He made full admissions when interviewed by police officers.”

Sheriff Kevin Veal heard the lighter was not recovered as the boy had disposed of it in a field nearby.

Mrs Brown added the building contractors estimated the cost of damage at around £50,000, as the fire-damaged buildings had to be demolished to foundation level and rebuilt.

Advocate Tim Niven-Smith, defending, appealed to the sheriff to pass the case to the Children’s Panel to deal with.

He told the court a care plan had been drawn up for his client, which included a three-month secure placement order, with the option to extend it.

The plan would provide support for the family, he said, particularly the boy and his mother, and would help address his social, educational and behavioural needs.

The advocate said a background report from social workers “does not make particularly pleasant reading”, explaining the boy had been subjected to a number of difficulties, including regularly moving school.

He continued, “To attend 11 primary schools is bound to affect people of that age. He is not entirely responsible for his behavioural problems.”

Sheriff Veal, sentencing the boy, said, “It is of some concern the boy went to the locus with a lighter in his possession.

“On the other hand, once the fire commenced it is quite clear he contacted the emergency services and his parents and was told by them to contact police so that the matter was investigated and determined by the following Monday.”

The sheriff said the social work report set out “a very troubled background” over many years.

He said the boy’s interests were better served in a secure unit where there was care, compassion, support and discipline.

The sheriff added if the detention was of a sufficient period, work would be done with the boy to prepare him for his return to society.

Sheriff Veal added the sentence would have been 33 months’ detention, but reduced it because of his guilty plea.